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.

Asphalt milling, paving & compaction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Government is “Passing Water Pollution Buck to the Car Industry”, experts warn.
    August 23, 2019
    The Government acknowledged the serious and growing impacts of poisonous particle pollution from brake, tyre and road surface wear on the environment and human health - but diverted attention away from the immediate and urgent need to stop it entering directly into rivers and streams, water quality specialists have warned. Environment Minister Therese Coffey responded to a scientific report published by the Air Quality Expert Group by telling car and tyre manufacturers to prepare to reduce non-exhaust em
    Read More
  • IRF publishes ITS manifesto
    February 22, 2013
    Ministerial launch marks IRF’s long-term commitment to ITS deployment and the creation of conducive policy environments for the adoption of smart technology While sustainable mobility is recognised as one of the keys to social and economic development, our roads are becoming increasingly congested, road transport has negative environmental impacts and more and more cars need to be accommodated. For IRF, a pivotal response to this dilemma lies in the increased deployment of intelligent transport systems (IT
    Read More
  • DFT study highlights prevalence of cellphone use by drivers
    February 25, 2015
    A study on behalf of the Department for Transport by the Transport Research Laboratory into the prevalence of illegal mobile phone use while driving has been released. The TRL has said that the data gives greater understanding of who is using mobile phones while driving and for what purpose, and how this can then be used to support future policy development. The figures show in 2014, 1.1% of drivers in England and Scotland were observed holding a phone in their hand with a further 0.5% observed holding the
    Read More
  • Cat launches new tandem rollers at Intermat
    April 12, 2012
    A new range of tandem vibratory rollers will be launched by Cat at Intermat, which it said will deliver greater operator comfort and visibility. Among the range will be articulated and drum-steer configurations, available with solid or split drums. Optional attachments will allow customers to take advantage of the versatility on offer by customizing the machine for specific applications, enabling customers to improve compaction quality.
    Read More

Highlighted Content