ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Concrete Pavement Dowel Bar Alignment Using Magnetic Pulse Induction
 N E3013/E3013M

Annotation

This test method covers the equipment, field procedures, and interpretation methods for the assessment of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement dowel bar alignment using Magnetic Pulse Induction (MPI), also referred to as magnetic imaging tomography or eddy current tomography. Magnetic Pulse Induction (MPI) devices induce a weak pulsed magnetic field that causes the induction of eddy currents in metal objects disturbing the field. When metal (dowel bar) enters into the field an electrical signal is produced and processed through algorithms to detect and produce quantitative values for the depth, alignment and side shift locations of each dowel and tie bar present in the pavement joint.

MPI equipment includes the following systems scanning device that induces the magnetic field and collects the electrical signal, orientation system such as a rail system, field data collection device that collects the signal data from the scanner, performs field analysis, and stores data, analysis software package that calculates the dowel bar positions, allows data adjustments to account for detected anomalies and produces reports.

MPI field procedures describe the steps and processes required to collect reliable, repeatable and accurate results from the scanner operation and orientation system. Critical to the accuracy is the absence of any metal items except for the dowel bars in the vicinity of the joints being tested. Metal in the scanner and orientation system should be minimized. The scanner operation procedures cover the collecting of the data, reviewing the results on the field data collector, and determining if the data collection test was successful.

MPI interpretation methods describe how to analyze data collected in the field procedure, steps taken to address interferences, and anomalies discovered during the data analysis to provide accurate results for the dowel bar positions. Also minimum report content is prescribed for the production of meaningful test information substantiating the results.