Fiscal year 2008 funds were used to initiate this research study, which is split into two phases. Fiscal year 2008 funds only cover phase I, which has focused on identifying and evaluating available technologies that can be embedded in a pavement and survive the harsh paving construction operation. The proposed phase II study consists of two parts: the focus of part 1 is to demonstrate a sensor system that is embedded in a pavement and capable of continuously monitoring the physical properties of asphalt and/or concrete pavements, at an early age as well as long term. It is envisioned that more than one type of sensor may be needed to assess adequately the monitoring of a pavement. The system integrates wireless communications, data acquisition, and various sensors capable of monitoring parameters that indicate potential pavement problems. Such parameters may include stress and strain within the pavement, cracking, temperature, and moisture. Although the objective of this phase is the development of the data collection system, the data will be collected and fed into existing pavement management systems to assist with predicting pavement performance and to help in the development of more effective maintenance plans.

After completion of part 1, depending on fund availability, Federal Highway Administration may enter part 2 of the study to conduct more widespread field trials by taking into consideration the determination of how many of these sensing devices must be installed with a given volume/area or per 1 km of pavement for reliability; determination of the optimal location for the device(s); assessing the ability of the sensor system to function correctly under the heavy traffic and environments in which the devices have to operate, and the possible effect of the environment on the performance of the sensor system (moisture, steel corrosion, alkali, temperature, etc.); determination of the length of time the sensor system will deliver data; ascertaining the reliability and consistency over time of the information obtained from the embedded devices; and refining the sensor system based on field evaluation. The proposed phase II research study addresses the objectives of Concrete Roadmap Project 40.1, Stress Sensing Concrete Pavement, Project 40.2, Self Inspecting Smart Concrete Pavements, and from the Asphalt Roadmap, Project 2.11 Remaining Service Life of In-Place Asphalt Pavements.

• Infrastructure

• FY 2002-2022 / Infrastructure / Pavements and Materials