Field evaluation of nondestructive tests in measuring the pavement layers density

Abstract

The aim of this study was field evaluation of nondestructive devices in measuring the density of road layers. Density may be considered as a reliable criterion for evaluating pavement quality and has a high level of importance in that it can ensure the proper performance of pavement at least prior the period of life-time. At present time, the most current and also accurate method to determine in-situ density of asphalt mixture is core sample method, however it has some disadvantages. As well as being costly and time consuming, core sample method causes some distress on the pavement surface and it is not possible to repeat the test for a specific location. In view of this, some attempts were made to develop new methods as alternatives for core sample method. And as such, nondestructive tests have grown into a huge area over the last few years. These tests including nuclear and nonnuclear nondestructive tests do not have the limitations of core sample method. In this study, field evaluation in a new constructed part of a highway was conducted using pavement quality indicator (PQI301) and Troxler nuclear gauge (Model HS-5001EZ). According to the results of validation tests for nondestructive devices (PQI and Nuclear devices), PQI device has sufficient reliability to determine density of asphalt mixture layer but Nuclear device is not reliable to determine density. The obtained results from validation of nuclear device revealed that it has sufficient reliability to determine density of soil layers. Also it was found that the role of calibration procedure in obtaining correct readings From PQI device is highly critical. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information.