Evaluation of Low-Temperature Cracking Performance of Asphalt Pavements Using Acoustic Emission: A Review

Abstract

Low-temperature cracking is a major form of distress that can compromise the structural integrity of asphalt pavements located in cold regions. A review of an Acoustic Emission (AE)-based approach is presented that is capable of assessing the low-temperature cracking performance of asphalt binders and asphalt pavement materials through determining their embrittlement temperatures. A review of the background and fundamental aspects of the AE-based approach with a brief overview of its application to estimate low-temperature performance of unaged, short-term, and long-term aged binders, as well as asphalt materials, is presented. The application of asphalt pavements containing recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) materials to thermal cracking assessment is also presented and discussed. Using the Felicity effect, the approach is capable of evaluating the self-healing characteristics of asphalt pavements and the effect of cooling cycles upon their fracture behavior. Using an iterative AE source location technique, the approach is also used to evaluate the efficiency of rejuvenators, which can restore aged asphalt pavements to their original crack-resistant state. Results indicate that AE allows for relatively rapid and inexpensive characterization of pavement materials and can be used towards enhancing pavement sustainability and resiliency to thermal loading.

Analysis of Acoustic Emission Signals Recorded during Freeze-Thaw Cycling of Concrete

“…The papers that describe continuous measurement using the AE method, and at the same time, concern cement-based materials deal only with standard AE parameters, see, e.g., [44][45][46]. Other studies deal with different materials, such as water-saturated ceramics ( [47], this study utilizes equipment from the same manufacturer as in the manuscript submitted by us) or materials for asphalt roads, see [48]. However, the acoustic emission method is typically used to compare the behaviour of materials after F-T cycles during mechanical loading, which is described, for example, in [49][50][51][52].…”

GPR Spectra for Monitoring Asphalt Pavements

“…Ultrasonic tomography has been also applied to detect cracks in concrete pavements [27,28]. The shallowest layers (asphalt binders) have been analyzed in some cases by using acoustic emission in order to detect incipient cracking [29,30]). GPR is other widely used technique in the assessment of pavements.…”

Structural Health Monitoring of Large Structures Using Acoustic Emission–Case Histories

“…Moriya [8] presented the use of an AE method for determining the seismicity of a lake bottom following the massive 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Another review by Behnia et al [9] discussed AE methods for evaluating the structural integrity of asphalt pavements located in cold regions. It amply shows that AE allows for relatively rapid and inexpensive characterization of pavement materials and can be used for enhancing pavement sustainability and resiliency to thermal loading.…”