1. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
9/13/2018
Application of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in pavement investigation
Istvan Sereg
Geophysics Technician
URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited
Meeting of Young Geoscientists - Tatabanya, Hungary
March 30-31, 2012

2. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Contents
9/13/2018
Introduction
Reasons & Goals
GPR-Survey methodology
Sitework
High-Speed GPR Survey vs. Slow-Speed GPR Survey
Office work
Processing steps
Advantages & Limitations
Additional tests
NDT tests
DT tests
Results
References
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 2
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

3. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
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Introduction 3

4. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Introduction
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GPR basics
Permittivity – Velocity of wave propagation
Conductivity - Attenuation
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 4
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

5. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Introduction
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Reasons
Maintanence work due to pavement failure
Cracking: reflective cracks, alligator cracks, thermal cracks, block cracks, linear craks, edge cracks, slippage;
Distortion: rutting, shoving or corrugations;
Disintegration: raveling/weathering, delamination, potholes;
Surface defects: bleeding or flushed asphalt, polished aggregate
Upgrading
Goals
Provide information to engineers undertaking pavement rehabilitation projects, such as:
Structure information
Layer thickness
Location of changes of construction
Presence of moisture
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 5
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

6. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Introduction
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NSWP - Near Side Wheel Path
OSWP - Off-Side Wheel Path
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 6
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

7. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
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GPR-Survey methodology 7

8. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
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Sitework
Planning and optimising geophysical investigation.
Performing sitework.
OSWP
NSWP
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 8
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

9. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
High-Speed GPR Survey
Slow-Speed GPR Survey
Advantages
Fast datacollection
Possible progression with the trafficflow
Disadvantages
Poor lateral resolution
Only air-lunched antennae can be used
Used for taking longitudinal profiles.
Advantages
Ground-coupled antennae can be used
Good lateral resolution
Disadvantages
TM cooperation needed due to avoiding H&S issues
Prohibited trafficflow
Slow datacollection
Used for taking longitudinal and/or
transverse profiles.
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 9

10. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
Office work
Data relocation! (referencing to marker posts, HAPMS, site chainage)
Data processing
Core calibration
Interpretation (thickness plots, apparent moisture plots)
Reporting
RAW DATA
PROCESSED DATA
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 10
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

11. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
Cores
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 11
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

12. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Advantages & Limitations
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Antennae freqency
Velocity
[mns-1]
Max. penetration
c. [m]
Wavelength
[m]
Min. detectable object (resolution)
900 MHz
0.1 mns-1
1 m
0.11 m
0.035 m – m
1 GHz (air coupl.)
0.6 m
0.1 m
0.03 m – 0.05 m
1.5 Ghz
0.5 m
0.07 m
0.025 m – m
90-95%
Accurancy up to:
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 12
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

13. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
High-speed example – recent activity
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 13
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

14. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
Slow-speed example
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 14
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

15. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
High-speed example
Raw GPR data
Processed GPR data
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 15
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

16. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
High-speed example
Picked GPR data
Interpreted thickness plot
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 16
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

17. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
GPR-Survey methodology
9/13/2018
Slow-speed example
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 17
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

18. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
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Additional tests 18

19. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Additional tests
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NDT
FWD
Visual evaluation DT
Coring
Laboratory tests
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 19
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

20. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
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Results 20

21. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Results of the GPR survey
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High-speed example
Raw GPR data
Interpreted plot
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 21
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

22. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Results
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Complex and detailed information (Final report) about the road structure
Material thickness profile
Apparent moisture content
Mechanical properties (stiffness, compression strength)
Pavement life
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 22
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

23. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
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References 23

24. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
References
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C. Blades, E. Kearney: Asphalt Paving Principles, CLRP#04-3, March, 2004
W. Muller: Application of ground penetrating radar to road pavement rehabilitation, Queenslands Roads Edition No 7, 7 March, 2009
L. Liu: GPR for fast pavement assessment, JHR , May, 2007
I. Sereg: Application of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in characterization of concrete and building structures, Meeting of Young Geoscientists – 25th-26th March, Győr, Hungary
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 24
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012

25. CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Thank you for your attention!
9/13/2018
Thank you for your attention!
Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in pavement investigation 25
Meeting of Youndg Geoscientists – Tatabanya, Hungary – March 30-31, 2012