Process Control System to Manage Materials Used in Construction

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for designing and tracking construction material usage by estimating volumetric properties for one or more mix designs; determining an optimum mix based on laboratory data; and field testing a sample of the optimum mix; and tracking and managing construction material usage based on the optimum mix.

1 . A method for designing and tracking construction material usage, comprising:
 estimating volumetric properties for one or more mix designs;   determining an optimum mix based on laboratory data; and   field testing a sample of the optimum mix;   tracking and managing construction material usage based on the optimum mix; and   determining material acceptance and pay adjustment.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tracking laboratory and field test results. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising tracking Aggregate Properties. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising tracking Asphalt Properties. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising tracking Hot mix Asphalt Properties. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the test result. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising generating a Control Chart. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising calculating statistical measures including Average, Standard deviation, and Range. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing Material Acceptance and Pay Adjustment based on a project specification. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating exception reports. 
   
   
       11 . A system, comprising:
 a gyratory compactor;   a computer coupled to the gyratory compactor, the computer having computer readable code to estimate volumetric properties for one or more mix designs; run one or more tests on the mix design using the gyratory compactor; digitally collect data for each gyration from the gyratory compactor; and select an optimum mix based on the gyration data;   an asphalt content tester coupled to the computer to provide ignition data to test the mix;   computer code to track and manage construction material usage based on the optimum mix and to determine Material Acceptance and Pay Adjustment.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising code to determine Quality Index (Q). 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising code to determine Q L , Q U  Lower and upper Quality Index, 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein 
     
       
         
           
             QL 
             = 
             
               
                 μ 
                 - 
                 LL 
               
               σ 
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein 
     
       
         
           
             QU 
             = 
             
               
                 μ 
                 - 
                 UL 
               
               σ 
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising determining a percent out of limit is calculated based on Q L , Q U . 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising determining a total percent out of limit or percent defective (PD). 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein
     PD=PL+PU