Cai, H; Kuczek, T; Dunston, P S and Li, S (2017) Correlating intelligent compaction data to in situ soil compaction quality measurements. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 143(8): 04017038, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Intelligent compaction (IC) technologies yield a large number of data useful for quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) in the construction of soil subgrade and embankments. A main challenge of using IC technologies for QC/QA is that the empirical relationships between IC data and in situ measurements are not clear, which prevents transportation agencies from developing an equivalent-criteria specification for the use of IC as a QC/QA tool. This paper describes the results from an experimental research study that was conducted for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to assess the correlations between IC data and in situ measurements of compaction quality. Instead of a specifically prepared test site, all the data were collected from a section of U.S. Highway 31 that was under construction. Two types of IC data, compaction meter value (CMV) and machine drive power (MDP), were collected along with the corresponding positions of the rollers. In situ measurements were also conducted to independently assess soil compaction, including dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP), falling weight deflectometer (FWD), and lightweight deflectometer (LWD). Averages of the IC measures were obtained from the local areas of the in situ measurements for correlation analysis. The correlation results provide insights for a state highway agency (SHA) to determine how it may rely on IC for QC/QA in soil compaction. Observed correlations confirm the promise of using IC results to substitute traditional in situ measurements in acceptance tests, which can reduce the requirements for inspection staff to perform in situ tests. The results also suggest that the identification of weak areas, rather than determining acceptance, is the most readily attainable application of IC for QC/QA with soils, particularly with respect to CMV.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | compaction meter value; construction materials and methods; embankment; intelligent compaction; machine drive power; quality assurance; quality control |
| Index terms: | quality assurance, specification, agency, embankment, transportation agency, inspection, correlation analysis, quality control, in-situ, construction material |
| Subjects: | contractual condition, sociology, building construction, statistical analysis, quality assurance, transportation engineering, infrastructure and transport systems, building materials, project delivery |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Quality Management, Contract Administration |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here