Parametric optimization of Ground Penetrating Radar approach for assessing asphalt pavement surface layers compaction

In this study, a parametric analysis was performed and an optimized approach based on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was developed for assessing accurately the compaction of surface layers of hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. This approach consists of data acquisition with a 2-Ghz air coupled antenna for determining the dielectric constant of asphalt, and utilization of the capabilities of ALL (Al-Qadi, Lahouar and Leng) and PANK (Päällystealan Neuvottelukunta) models in terms of data analysis supplemented with 3 cores to estimate the relative calibration factors. Field studies were performed to illustrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach, in relation with the typical coring method. The results demonstrated that the estimates of compaction degree (mean values) are statistically identical to that of field cores. Moreover, by using the proposed approach the distributions of estimates are postulated to be more realistic in terms of compaction (non) uniformity of pavement mat appear in the field.