Implementing a Smartphone Application for Assessing the Raveling Performance of Asphalt Pavements

Abstract

It is essential to evaluate the performance of pavements during their service life. Raveling is one of the important pavement performance defects, especially for Open Graded Friction Course mixes. The FC-5 is a type of friction course that has been used commonly in southern Florida. Florid Department of Transportation (FDOT) uses conventional qualitative visual inspection to assess pavement raveling performance. This study developed a data collection tool that uses a smartphone application and introduced a software to measure the raveling area and determine raveling location in video images, by implementing the smartphone GPS capability. This data collection tool enables users to identify the location and extension of raveling that can link the placement data with raveling performance. A project was surveyed to conduct a statistical analysis to investigate the effects of mix design, construction, and environmental factors on raveling at the lot level. Data analysis results show that raveling may affected by several parameters including ambient temperature, mix temperature, asphalt cement content and mix gradation. In light of this study, recommendations were made to enhance the longevity of the FC-5 mixtures.