Moisture Variations in Unbound Layers in an Instrumented Pavement Section

• DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1338167
• Publication Date: 2015-02-03
• Authors: Md R. Islam; Rafiqul A. Tarefder
• Keywords: climate model.; 13. Climate action; resilient modulus; Asphalt pavement; 15. Life on land; 6. Clean water; moisture probes

{"references": ["AASHTO, Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide. A Manual\nof Practice, July 2008, Interim Edition, American Association of State\nHighway and Transportation Officials, Washington D. C., 2008.", "F. Bayomy and H. Salem, Monitoring and Modelling Subgrade Soil\nMoisture for Pavement Design and Rehabilitation in Idaho, Phase III:\nData Collection and Analysis.\" Final Report, Project No. ITD Project\nSPR 0010 (025) 124), 2005, submitted to Idaho Transportation\nDepartment (ITD), Boise, Idaho 83707.", "R. A. Tarefder and M. Ahmad, \"Addressing Permeability of Superpave\nMixes in New Mexico.\" Final Report, NM11MSC-02, 2013, New\nMexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), Albuquerque, NM\n87199.", "C. Heywood, D. Galloway, and S. Stork, \"Ground Displacements\nCaused by Aquifer-System Water-Level Variations Observed Using\nInterferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar near Albuquerque, New\nMexico.\" Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4235, 2002, City of\nAlbuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico.", "R. A. Tarefder and M. R. Islam, \"Study and Evaluation of Materials\nResponse in Hot Mix Asphalt Based on Field Instrumentation.\" Final\nReport, NM11MSC-03, 2015, New Mexico Department of\nTransportation (NMDOT), Albuquerque, NM 87199."]}<br/>This study presents the moisture variations of unbound layers from April 2012 to January 2014 in the Interstate 40 (I-40) pavement section in New Mexico. Three moisture probes were installed at different layers inside the pavement which measure the continuous moisture variations of the unbound layers. Data show that the moisture contents of unbound layers are typically constant throughout the day and month unless there is rainfall. Moisture contents of all unbound layers change with rainfall. Change in ground water table may affect the moisture content of unbound layers which has not been investigated in this study. In addition, the Level 3 predictions of moisture contents using the Pavement Mechanistic- Empirical (ME) Design software were compared and found quite reasonable. However, results presented in the current study may not be applicable for pavement in other regions.<br/>