Subsurface characterization of Removable Urban Pavements (RUP) using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Résumé
In the pursuit of improving transport infrastructure as part of the overall sustainable development policy, new coatings and emerging structures are coming to the forefront. This is the case with Removable Urban Pavements (RUP). This new type of structure, thanks to lightweight equipment, is removable in parts and allows quick access to underground networks. To assess the design and potential degradation of RUP, the use of multi-technique tools for Non-Destructive Techniques (NDT) is implemented as part of the European HERON project. These methods are increasingly sought after by transport infrastructure managers, both for corrective and preventive/predictive maintenance. Among them, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is gaining popularity among pavement professionals for multi-object detection/characterization in the subsurface, as well as for assessing the geometry of structures. In this context, a RUP structure, installed on the fatigue carousel at Gustave Eiffel University (Nantes, France) and subjected to various mechanical and hydraulic solicitations, has been studied using GPR.