Pavement Evaluation using Ground Penetrating Radar
Principal Investigator:
Bojan Guzina, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Co-Investigator:
- Joseph Labuz, Professor, Civil Engineering
Project Summary:
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a nondestructive electromagnetic geophysical technique for continuous evaluation of the pavement system. Owing to its efficiency, GPR is increasingly being used to characterize pavement structures, most notably in terms of the AC layer thickness, mass density, and moisture content. Mn/DOT has purchased a GPR system and it has been used in pavement evaluation for districts and local governments. Currently, the GPR images are interpreted by means of commercial software. Unfortunately, these algorithms: 1) produce results in terms of AC layer thickness that are of limited accuracy; and, 2) do not provide a means to estimate the AC mass density. To overcome these shortcomings, this research will attempt to develop efficient and accurate algorithms that would help resolve: 1) AC and base layer thicknesses; 2) mass density of the AC layer; 3) amount of voids in pavements; 4) indication of pavement stripping; 5) moisture content of aggregate bases. Algorithms developed will be implemented into the existing GPR software. The goal of this project is to develop efficient and more accurate algorithms for the back-analysis of electromagnetic field measurements performed on paved (and unpaved) roads that would translate GPR images into a more reliable information about the thickness of the AC and aggregate base layers, pavement stripping, and mass density of the AC layer. The latter property may be related to amount of voids in pavements, and moisture content of the aggregate base.
Sponsor:
Project Details:
- Start date: 09/2004
- Project Status: Completed
- Research Area: Infrastructure
- Topics: Maintenance, Pavements