Skip to main content

Transtec and FHWA release Intelligent Compaction Measurement paper

Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values – ICMV – can be difficult to understand. What’s more, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive documents explaining ICMV. For these reasons, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and pavement engineering firm Transtec Group have released a technical brief to demystify ICMV. ICMV is a generic term for advanced measurement systems instrumented on vibratory rollers as a key components of intelligent compaction (IC) systems. It is based on the acceleration
February 23, 2018 Read time: 3 mins
Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values - ICMV - is based on acceleration signals that represent the rebound force from the compacted materials to the roller drums

Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values – ICMV – can be difficult to understand. What’s more, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive documents explaining ICMV.

For these reasons, the 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and pavement engineering firm 5943 Transtec Group have released a technical brief to demystify ICMV.

ICMV is a generic term for advanced measurement systems instrumented on vibratory rollers as a key components of intelligent compaction (IC) systems. It  is based on the acceleration signals that represent the rebound force from the compacted materials to the roller drums.

ICMVs come in different forms of metrics with various levels of correlation to compacted material’s mechanical and physical properties, such as stiffness, modulus, and density. Without ICMV, it is difficult, if not completely impossible, to determine whether compaction has reached the required properties.

In addition, ICMV can identify weak spots or difficult-to-compact locations even if there were sufficient roller passes for those areas. ICMV is the only technology that can provide measurements for as-built properties with 100% coverage of compacted areas.

The tech brief provides important technical classification and level systems leading to true layer-specific modulus and density measurements of compacted materials. It serves as a road map for using ICMV for real-time compaction monitoring, control and acceptance. The document covers how to measure and calculate ICMV, models for solving ICMV and the various levels of ICMV.

ICMV helps contractors measure the levels of compaction during the compaction process to allow just-in-time adjustment of operation to optimise the compaction efforts, which leads to improved compaction quality control (QC).

ICMV provides owners and agencies with permanent records of as-built information that can be used for forensic studies and future rehabilitation decisions, which leads to improved quality acceptance and assurance (QA). High-level ICMV can also help with the future implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for pavements.

Intelligent Compaction

IC is an equipment-based technology to improve quality control of compaction. IC vibratory rollers are equipped with a high precision global positioning system (GPS), infrared temperature sensors, an accelerometer-based measurement system, and an onboard color-coded display.  IC is used to improve compaction control for various pavement materials including granular and clayey soils, subbase materials, and asphalt materials. The accelerometer-based measurement system is a core IC technology that was invented in the early 80’s and is still evolving today.

Last the summer, the FHWA and Transtec released two other IC technical briefs.

Specification for Intelligent Compaction Technical Brief (FHWA-HIF-17-037) provides a review of national and state IC specifications and recommendations for future enhancements.

Colour-Coded IC Maps Technical Brief (FHWA-HIF-17-036) outlines guidelines and recommendations for colour-coded maps using IC and paver-mounted thermal profiler data.

The Transtec Group, based in Austion, in the US state of Texas, specialises in pavement design, research, testing and construction support as well as the creation of pavement software and hardware tools.

The briefing is available as a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external free download DOT website link false https://https//www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/ictssc/pubs/hif17046.pdf false false%> from the FHWA.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Shantui has developed a productive asphalt batching plant
    January 6, 2017
    The new SLB3000 asphalt batching plant dominating the Shantui booth is the largest and most productive the firm has ever built. Constructed along modern modular lines, the plant can be set up on-site and commissioned quickly, providing a capacity of up to 240tonnes/hour. The modular layout also allows the plant to be disassembled and transported to a new site quickly, cutting costs for the customer and increasing utilisation. The mixer offers a rated capacity of 30tonnes, while measuring accuracy is said to
  • Shantui has developed a productive asphalt batching plant
    November 30, 2012
    The new SLB3000 asphalt batching plant dominating the Shantui booth is the largest and most productive the firm has ever built. Constructed along modern modular lines, the plant can be set up on-site and commissioned quickly, providing a capacity of up to 240tonnes/hour. The modular layout also allows the plant to be disassembled and transported to a new site quickly, cutting costs for the customer and increasing utilisation. The mixer offers a rated capacity of 30tonnes, while measuring accuracy is said to
  • Dynapac introduces new CC1600 compactor
    January 6, 2017
    Dynapac is introducing the CC1600 tandem roller for asphalt which features a state-of-the-art drivers’ platform and a water-cooled engine. It has vibratory drums as wide as 1,600mm, and is engineered primarily for asphalt compaction on streets and pavements in urban areas. It is also suitable for compacting sub-bases and base courses, and is adequate to follow a compact paver.
  • Dynapac introduces new CC1600 compactor
    February 13, 2013
    Dynapac is introducing the CC1600 tandem roller for asphalt which features a state-of-the-art drivers’ platform and a water-cooled engine. It has vibratory drums as wide as 1,600mm, and is engineered primarily for asphalt compaction on streets and pavements in urban areas. It is also suitable for compacting sub-bases and base courses, and is adequate to follow a compact paver.