Published

2014-05-01

Assessing artificial neural network performance in estimating the layer properties of pavements

Evaluación del desempeño de redes neuronales artificiales para estimar propiedades de capas de pavimentos

Keywords:

Artificial neural networks, pavements, non-destructive testing, deflections, layer moduli (en)
Redes neuronales artificiales, pavimentos, auscultación no destructiva, deflexiones, módulos de capa (es)

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Authors

  • Gloria Inés Beltran Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Miguel Pedro Romo Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM

A major concern in assessing the structural condition of existing flexible pavements is the estimation of the mechanical properties of constituent layers, which is useful for the design and decision-making process in road management systems. This parameter identification problem is truly complex due to the large number of variables involved in pavement behavior. To this end, non-conventional adaptive or approximate solutions via Artificial Neural Networks - ANNs - are considered to properly map pavement response field measurements. Previous investigations have demonstrated the exceptional ability of ANNs in layer moduli estimation from non-destructive deflection tests, but most of the reported cases were developed using synthetic deflection data or hypothetical pavement systems. This paper presents further attempts to back-calculate layer moduli via ANN modeling, using a database gathered from field tests performed on three- and four-layer pavement systems. Traditional layer structuring and pavements with a stabilized subbase were considered. A three-stage methodology is developed in this study to design and validate an "optimum" ANN-based model, i.e., the best architecture possible along with adequate learning rules. An assessment of the resulting ANN model demonstrates its forecasting capabilities and efficiency in solving a complex parameter identification problem concerning pavements.

Una de las principales preocupaciones en la evaluación de la condición estructural de pavimentos flexibles en servicio, es la estimación de propiedades mecánicas de las capas, útiles para el diseño y toma de decisiones en los sistemas de gestión de carreteras. Este problema de identificación de parámetros es realmente complejo, debido al gran número de variables involucradas en el comportamiento de los pavimentos. Para esos fines, se ha considerado modelar la respuesta del pavimento ante pruebas de campo, mediante soluciones adaptativas o aproximadas no convencionales usando Redes Neuronales Artificiales - RNAs. Las investigaciones previas han demostrado la capacidad excepcional de las RNAs para estimar módulos de capas, a partir de pruebas no destructivas de deflexión; sin embargo, la mayoría de los casos reportados han utilizado datos sintéticos de deflexión, o sistemas de pavimento hipotéticos. En este trabajo se presentan nuevos intentos para retrocalcular los módulos de capa con modelos de RNAs, a partir de una base de datos obtenida de pruebas de deflexión realizadas en campo sobre sistemas de pavimento de tres y cuatro capas; se consideraron estructuras tradicionales y pavimentos con capas de subbase rigidizada. Para el diseño y validación del modelo "óptimo" de RNAs, es decir, la mejor arquitectura posible y el algoritmo de aprendizaje más adecuado, se desarrolló una metodología en tres etapas. La evaluación del modelo neuronal resultante, muestra su capacidad y eficiencia de predicción para resolver un problema complejo de identificación de parámetros en pavimentos.

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