Asphalt Real Time Smoothness (ARTS) for Asphalt Paving
The study’s objective is to extend the current real-time smoothness (RTS) technologies to applications on asphalt paving, asphalt RTS or asphalt RTS (ARTS). ARTS’s anticipated benefits isolate the causes of roughness from the paver operation from those from the compaction. This would allow adjustment to be made to the paver settings (such as tow point and feed system settings, equipment maintenance, cleaning, etc.) to improve smoothness. The current RTS will be re-designed to be ARTS with new accessories, such as air purge to keep sensors’ lenses clean. Adjustment of the mounted height on an asphalt paver to operate within the allowable sensors’ temperature ranges to withstand airborne particulate, smoke, dust, and excess vibration. It is estimated 20% of pavers operating with screed vibration at 1,700 to 2,200 vpm in North America. The research team will develop an ARTS without considering screed vibration initially, then consider/include screed vibration effects.
TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Paving; Paving materials; Screeds; Smoothness