STRENGTH MEASUREMENTS USING MATURITY FOR PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT CONSTRUCTION AT AIRFIELDS

The objective of this project is to demonstrate a non-complex solution for monitoring concrete strengths in real time using concrete maturity technology. The project team evaluated a number of commercially available maturity measurement devices coupled with an innovative strength assessment and prediction system, termed Total Environmental Management for Paving (TEMP). This project included a field evaluation of a concrete pavement placement at Des Moines International Airport (DSM). The research team evaluated the following maturity measuring devices: 1. T-Type Thermocouple; 2. Dallas Semiconductor Thermocron iButton; 3. Nomadics Construction Labs intelliRock(trademark) Maturity, Temperature, and prototype Strength Loggers; and 4. Identec Solutions i-Q Tags. As a result of this field evaluation, it has been concluded that current maturity technology can be used to successfully assess the strength of a concrete airfield pavement in real-time. Furthermore, it is believed that the adoption of maturity-based technologies can result in expedited airfield repair and construction, and an improved knowledge of the concrete pavement in place, as it is placed.