Research on the Road Performance of Asphalt Mixtures Based on Infrared Thermography

Abstract

Temperature segregation during the paving of asphalt pavements is one of the causes of asphalt pavement distress. Therefore, controlling the paving temperature is crucial in the construction of asphalt pavements. To quickly evaluate the road performance of asphalt mixtures during paving, in this work, we used unmanned aerial vehicle infrared thermal imaging technology to monitor the construction work. By analyzing the temperature distribution at the paving site, and conducting laboratory tests, the relationship between the melt temperature, high-temperature stability, and water stability of the asphalt mix was assessed. The results showed that the optimal temperature measurement height for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an infrared thermal imager was 7–8 m. By coring the representative temperature points on the construction site and then conducting a Hamburg wheel tracking (HWT) test, the test results were verified through the laboratory test results in order to establish a prediction model for the melt temperature and high-temperature stability of y = 10.73e0.03x + 1415.78, where the predictive model for the melt temperature and water was y = −19.18e−0.02x + 98.03. The results showed that using laboratory tests combined with UAV infrared thermography could quickly and accurately predict the road performance of asphalt mixtures during paving. We hope that more extensive evaluations of the roadworthiness of asphalt mixtures using paving temperatures will provide reference recommendations in the future.

Experiment and optimum of the asphalt paver’s parameters to ameliorate the working performance

“…The existing research also showed that the angular deviation of the tamper pairs in the vibrational screed system also affected the asphalt paver's working performance and pavement quality. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]16 However, in this experiment, the effect of the angular deviation of the tamper pairs has been ignored. In order to ameliorate the asphalt paver's working performance, the maximum RMS a needs to be achieved and distributed evenly on the length of the vibrational screed system.…”

“…Then, this model was also applied to assess the asphalt paver's pavement quality under the effect of the moving speed, mass, and excitation of the vibrational screed system. 4,[8][9][10] Research indicated that under the excitations of the vibrational screed system from 12 to 20 Hz, the asphalt paver's pavement quality was significantly ameliorated. This excitation with other parameters of the vibrational screed system including the eccentric distance and eccentric mass were then optimised to further enhance the pavement quality.…”

Advances in Regenerated Asphalt Mixtures

“…The uncontrollable temperature problem during the construction of asphalt pavement is one of the causes of asphalt pavement damage. Here is a report on the pavement performance and service life issues caused by temperature segregation during paving with asphalt pavement [ 12 ]. Through the use of unmanned aerial vehicle infrared thermal imaging technology to collect the temperature distribution of an asphalt mixture pavement construction site and by simulating on-site pavement conditions in the laboratory, it was concluded that the prediction results for the performance of asphalt mixture pavement obtained using unmanned aerial vehicle infrared thermal imaging technology have a high accuracy, and the relationship between the melt temperature, high-temperature stability and water stability of asphalt mixture was determined.…”