Use of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) For Structural Health Monitoring of Asphalt Pavements

The main objective of this research is to understand and develop tools to use Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology for monitoring the performance of pavement layers under traffic conditions. This technology steps beyond the traditional methods for the characterization of in-situ materials that make use of embedded sensors such as strain gauges, geophones, or accelerometers to obtain point measurements at specific locations by allowing significantly improved spatial coverage and refined resolution for capturing responses of pavement materials under traffic loadings without the need for traffic control. This research project will include laboratory-scale testing of pavement sections including DAS to produce data for analysis and development of a data reduction tool. The applicability of this tool will then be expanded using data collected from large test sections at Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center. The results from this study will lead to the development of best practices to implement this innovative technology that will give pavement engineers insight into the pavement condition. Region 6 DOTs can potentially use the outcomes of this technology for more effective asset management. The output of this project will include a comprehensive report documenting the best practices in data collection and reduction, ease of use and limitations of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology, and practical recommendations to facilitate its implementation. The developed tools are expected to effectively reduce and visualize the DAS data and help facilitate determining pavement conditions. The findings of this study are expected to lead to the development of best practices for providing pavement engineers insight into pavement performance, distress, and deterioration.

• Record URL:
  https://www.sptc.org/current-2022-funding-cycle

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $130000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348306

  CY1-UTEP- 01

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Southern Plains Transportation Center

  University of Oklahoma
  201 Stephenson Pkwy, Suite 4200
  Norman, OK  United States  73019
• Project Managers:

  Dunn, Denise

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Texas at El Paso

  El Paso, TX  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Tirado, Cesar

  Nazarian, Soheil

• Start Date: 20231001
• Expected Completion Date: 20240930
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic detectors; Asphalt pavements; Pavement distress; Pavement performance; Structural health monitoring
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01899465
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Southern Plains Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348306, CY1-UTEP- 01
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 16 2023 5:48PM