Ultrasonic Tomography for Evaluation of Concrete Pavements

Ultrasonic tomography is an emerging technology that shows promise for quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) during construction or for rehabilitation decisions about concrete pavements. However, the benefits of this emerging technology have not yet been fully captured for widespread use in highway infrastructure management. Verification of a state-of-the-art ultrasonic tomography device, MIRA, is presented through multiple field trials involving typical pavement constructability and rehabilitation issues. Field trials indicate that although the device is a useful portable pavement diagnostic alternative capable of consistent thickness measurement, reinforcement location, and distress evaluation, significant efforts and user expertise are required for measurement and data interpretation of large-scale application. Software was developed for a more productive, objective signal interpretation method with automated analysis of reinforcement location in continuously reinforced concrete pavement. This type of automation for multiple applications shows promise for the use of ultrasonic tomography to improve large-scale pavement QA/QC and rehabilitation projects in the future. Nevertheless, the research in the paper shows ultrasonic tomography to be an accurate, reliable, and convenient alternative or supplement to traditional techniques that can be used for a wide variety of small-scale pavement diagnostics applications.