State DOTs, as part of their routine practice, use various QA procedures in their acceptance process for highway pavement construction. However, conspicuously absent from this QA process is the use of NDT methods, despite their many potential benefits to the process. For example, as part of the QA process, these methods could enable DOTs to (1) quickly assess product uniformity during construction; (2) identify potential defects during construction to allow for timely corrective actions; (3) perform more frequent inspection and testing without coring and other destructive testing; and (4) minimize testing and inspection costs while improving construction quality. The most likely reasons behind this reluctance or the lack of interest by the DOTs in the use of NDT methods appear to be the relative complexity of some of the NDT technologies, inadequate training of the QA technicians and inspectors in their use, a lack of instruction on how to incorporate these technologies into the overall QA program, and the traditional reluctance of the users to adopt a new technology.

Under NCHRP Project 10-108, Applied Research Associates, Inc., was tasked to develop an easy-to-follow manual to help state DOTs select and incorporate appropriate NDT methods into their QA programs for highway pavement construction. A literature review and a scan of current and emerging NDT technologies and practices provided an overview of NDT QA procedures for potential highway pavement construction applications. A number of candidate techniques were identified for possible QA applications. This manual presents those technologies in necessary detail, including their potential benefits, operating principles, detection and measurement capabilities, and limitations and shortcomings. The intent of this manual is not to recommend certain specific NDT techniques to the users; it is to illustrate the features and capabilities of NDT techniques and their applicability in the QA process at various stages of pavement construction. It is for the users to decide what techniques they would like to use.

The manual is accompanied by a conduct of research report, which details the activities performed in the development of the manual. The report is available on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies.org) by searching for NCHRP Web-Only  Document 375: Incorporating Nondestructive Testing in Quality Assurance of Highway Pavement Construction: Conduct of Research Report.

NCHRP Report 1082 is a manual designed to assist state departments of transportation (DOTs) in selecting and incorporating applicable nondestructive testing (NDT) methods into their quality assurance (QA) programs for highway pavement construction. NDT techniques considered applicable to the QA process are explained in adequate detail. State DOTs and other interested in using the NDT methods in their pavement construction QA process should find this easy-to-follow guide very helpful.