Automated Non-contact Resonance Excitation Method to Assess Low Temperature Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Concrete

This paper studies the applicability of an automated non-destructive testing method to monitor the stiffness of asphalt concrete at low temperatures. A loudspeaker is used as a source of non-contact excitation of the axially symmetric fundamental resonant frequencies of a disc-shaped asphalt concrete specimen positioned inside an environmental chamber. Measured resonant frequencies are used to calculate the dynamic moduli of the specimen at different temperatures. The repeatability of the method as well as the effect of loudspeaker height above the sample are studied. Results show that the main advantage of the non-contact excitation method, compared to manually applied impact hammer excitation, is that repeatable automated measurements can be performed while the specimen is placed inside an environmental temperature chamber. This methodology enables to study the effect of only low temperature conditioning on the dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete without interference from mechanical loading.