UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 2 Research Projects

Project Number: CY2-UTEP-05
Project Title: Use of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) to Assess Bonding and Failure Mechanisms of Asphalt Pavements
Performing Institution: University of Texas at El Paso
Principal Investigators: Cesar Tirado and Soheil Nazarian
Proposed Start and End Date: 10/01/24 to 9/30/25
Project Description: Phase I of this project was focused on understanding and developing tools for utilizing Distributed Fiber Optics Sensing (DFOS), also known as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), to establish best practices for implementing this technology to gain insight into the pavement condition. In Phase II, this project advances to implement DFOS to assess the failure mechanisms of pavements. Under ASPIRE research activities, research is being conducted to address the inclusion of Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) technology components embedded in pavements. A critical concern with embedding transmitter pads near the surface is the potential development of high tensile stresses under traffic conditions. These stresses can lead to cracking or delamination due to poor bonding with the encasing materials, i.e., asphalt or PCC. Moreover, tensile stresses are expected to occur in locations difficult to instrument with vibrating wire strain gauges, such as edges and corners of embedded IPT components. While strain gauges can only be placed at discrete points and usually a few inches away from critical locations, fiber optic sensors can acquire data continuously along various paths, closer to these critical locations. As observed in Phase I, this technology provides enhanced spatial measurements with a resolution as fine as 2.6 mm in near-real time. These capabilities are suitable for the assessment of bonding conditions and failure mechanisms. This technology can benefit Region 6 DOTs as a tool that can be potentially utilized in the laboratory or in the field to collect pavement response to predict pavement performance for assessing highway infrastructure life and even to develop or adjust distress models when new technologies are implemented within pavements.
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