New Quality Assurance Tests for Building Quality Concrete Pavement

Abstract

Concrete materials and paving technologies have evolved considerably during the past century. However, testing technologies for concrete during construction have not kept pace. Some of the tests that are routinely used are not necessarily performance indicators and some are not made in real time. Seven new technologies are presented that are simple, real-time, field implementable, and economical and in many cases are performance indicators. Although some of these technologies could be used during the mixture design stage, others could be used during construction and some for both purposes. These technologies can be used to supplement or, in some cases, to replace the traditional tests for paving concrete. The discussion focuses on three items: ( a) traditional tests for paving concrete, ( b) new tests and technologies that could be used to supplement or replace the traditional tests, and ( c) suggested future specifications. Data collected by the FHWA Mobile Concrete Laboratory from its technology implementation efforts are presented to support the narrative on the benefits of these new technologies.