Investigation of Dual Roller-Integrated MDP/CMV Compaction Monitoring Technologies and Measurement Influence Depth

Principal Investigator:

David White, djwhite@iastate.edu (other projects)

Co-Principal Investigator:

• Tom Cackler, tcackler@iastate.edu (other projects)

Project Status: In Progress

Start Date: 01/01/2007
End Date: 04/01/2008


Research Objective: Caterpillar Inc. has a plan to bring intelligent compaction technology to the market with vibratory machines that use the compaction meter value (CMV) technology with vibratory and non-vibratory machines that use machine drive power (MDP). Previous research conducted by Iowa State University indicates that both CMV and MDP provide an indication of soil compaction through empirical correlations to various in-situ spot test measurements. Although both technologies are empirically well correlated to various compaction parameter measurement values over the length of a test strip, it is believed that the CMV and MDP values are sensitive to much different measurement influence depths, which changes how in-situ spot test measurements should be performed and measured. One objective of this study is to document the measurement influence depth for 2 different field conditions--soft underlying layer and stiff underlying layer.

With different measurement influence depths, a combined MDP-CMV parameter measurement could potentially provide a much more robust machine value parameter to be used during the compaction process. With a better understanding of the measurement influence depths of MDP and CMV for different underlying subgrade stiffness conditions, these parameters may be coupled to provide improved indications of the compaction layer and underlying layer stiffness. If feasible, this coupled technology will provide a whole new approach to roller-integrated compaction monitoring technology.

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