Comparative Seismic Laboratory and Non-Contact Field Measurements of Asphalt Concrete

Non-contact acoustic field measurements are performed on a newly built highway to characterize the real part of the dynamic modulus of the asphalt concrete (AC) top layer. The in situ measurements are performed using an array of 48 micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensors. Cores extracted from the field measurement positions are then examined in a laboratory using seismic modal testing for comparison. The laboratory testing allows master curves to be constructed to characterize the AC over a wide temperature and frequency range. It is demonstrated that the real parts of the dynamic moduli are consistent at the field temperatures using the two test methods. The in situ measurements are also shown to be highly repeatable. The presented comparative study indicates a possible application for assuring the quality of AC based on mechanical properties using fast noncontact in situ measurements.