The US Government has an average highway and road expenditure of USD 203 billion every year. As such, roads should be long-lasting and durable, requiring minimal repair over time. Pavement materials should also be high-quality to ensure the safety of motorists as well. You can achieve all of these with a proper compaction approach.
Intelligent Compaction seeks to overcome conventional compaction challenges such as non-uniform or inadequate material densities. With this construction technology, you can avoid inconsistencies that often lead to premature pavement failure.
What is Intelligent Compaction?
Intelligent Compaction (IC) has been a part of the construction industry since the 1980s. The approach – although relatively effective – was still quite crude back then, with contractors only tracking and documenting their efforts on the soil side only. It was only until the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) pushed this construction technology’s adoption in the early 2000s that the IC became more standardized.
IC uses modern vibratory rollers with integrated measurement systems for more accurate and effective compaction of road materials, including aggregate bases, soils, or asphalt pavement materials. Global Positioning System (GPS), onboard computer reporting system, and feedback control are also part of an excellent IC system.
The IC rollers used for compaction have two major functions:
- Continuously records color-coded plots, which allow you to collect data such as the number of roller passes and material stiffness measurements.
- Real-time compaction monitoring allows quick adjustments to the process. It provides smooth integration of documentation and control systems.
IC helps create a high-quality and long-lasting pavement by offering a solid base. Without this construction technology, machine operators will be running blind relative to the compaction process since they have no access to real-time information.
How this Construction Technology Works
Many contractors across the country still tend to choose conventional compaction machines. One reason for this is that they find IC quite overwhelming. However, going this route may result in inconsistent material densities, affecting the quality of their work.
By understanding how IC works, you’ll have a better chance of embracing this technology readily and incorporating it with related projects.
Here’s how IC functions in a nutshell:
- Vibratory rollers equipped with instrumentation send data to a documentation and feedback control system.
- The control system processes the data to a human-readable interface that the machine operator can understand easily.
- At the same time, GPS gathers data on the precise location of the roller and collects information about the number of passes and the speed.
- To help monitor the compaction effort applied, accelerometers or compaction meters mounted in the drum measure data on the compacted materials’ frequency and feedback.
Advantages of Using Intelligent Compaction
The degree and rate of compaction can vary greatly depending on the factors such as materials and underlying soil composition. However, IC offers a technology that allows precise measurement of these factors – producing consistent compaction results.
You’ll find that integrating IC provides numerous advantages to both you and your clients – from increased operational throughput to a higher quality of work. Using IC technology will let you enjoy significant benefits, including the following:
More Effective Compaction Process
Materials can vary greatly, as well as the natural ground composition underneath. When you use IC, you can optimize your compactive efforts based on the actual materials. Its advanced technology allows you to increase maximum amplitude during initial passes, making the work more efficient.
Better Assessment and Identification of Weak Spots
Information gathered from subsequent roller passes can help you easily assess if the underlying material is already enough for full compaction. Thus, it can ultimately enable you to use resources more efficiently. Plus, you’ll also be able to quickly identify any weak spots that require more materials and compaction.
Boosts Productivity and Reduces Operating Costs
With IC, you can quickly achieve the optimum density with just a minimum number of passes. As a result, you’ll be saving on fuel costs and operating hours. You’ll also be able to increase the amount of road material constructed per day. IC allows you to meet construction deadlines without compromising the quality of your work.
More Reliable Densities
Poor and inconsistent density can negatively impact construction and even lead to early pavement failure. By using IC technology, you’re able to improve the density of pavement materials, resulting in more consistent and reliable high densities. IC can help you achieve uniform densities in pavement construction – ensuring strength, stability, and optimal support.
Offer a More Reliable Solution to Your Construction Projects
Intelligent Compaction ensures that the asphalt pavements you complete will last as close as possible to their expected life span. Plus, it also guarantees the quality of the constructed pavement. With IC, you’ll be able to eliminate the guesswork involved in conventional compaction. You can use high-quality documentation for succeeding projects – ensuring that your success is repeatable. Ultimately, IC will help you save time and money.
Ready to integrate this technology into your business? Contact us, and we’ll help you transition smoothly into using Intelligent Compaction.