Real-time Monitoring of Concrete Strength to Determine Optimal Traffic Opening Time

The aim of this project is to develop a reliable in-situ sensing method to evaluate the concrete properties for determining optimal traffic opening time of patching job or new construction with fly ash or other supplementary cementitious materials. This goal will be achieved by using piezoelectric sensors coupled with electromechanical impedance (EMI) analyzers to determine the very early age properties of concrete (i.e. Stiffness, setting time, hydration, etc.). This novel method will address the deficiency of current testing methods for determining traffic opening, for instance extensive calibration of maturity test and inefficiency of flexural strength test. The impact of this study can be revolutionary as it does not require any conventional mechanical testing and expensive and heavy test setups in the field. It only requires commercially available piezoelectric sensors (~$10 per sensor) and a portable EMI analyzer for data analysis and interpretation. There is no need for calibration for each different mix design. The associated benefits of using this novel non-destructive sensing method include (1) determining optimal traffic opening time based on reliable data of concrete properties; (2) reducing pre-mature failure of concrete pavement, bridge deck, patching, and other concrete structures; (3) enabling significant cost and schedule savings in construction projects due to reduced testing samples and testing time; and (4) reducing construction worker safety issues and jobsite accident rates in construction zones.

• Record URL:
  http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/698

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $450000
• Contract Numbers:

  TPF-5(471)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Colorado Department of Transportation

  2829 W. Howard Place
  Denver, CO  United States  80204

  California Department of Transportation

  1227 O Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  Missouri Department of Transportation

  1617 Missouri Blvd.
  P.O. Box 270
  Jefferson City, MO  United States  65102

  North Dakota Department of Transportation

  608 East Boulevard Avenue
  Bismarck, ND  United States  58505-0700

  Texas Department of Transportation

  125 E. 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483

  Tennessee Department of Transportation

  James K. Polk Building
  Fifth and Deaderick Street
  Nashville, TN  United States  37243-0349
• Project Managers:

  Nantung, Tommy

• Start Date: 20210517
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20240530

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete construction; Construction scheduling; Electrical impedance; Field tests; Mechanical impedance; Mechanical properties; Monitoring; Nondestructive tests; Patching; Piezoelectricity; Sensors; Specifications; Work zone traffic control
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01762006
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Contract Numbers: TPF-5(471)
• Files: RIP, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 6 2021 3:39PM