A study on quality evaluation for bituminous mixture using X-ray CT

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to propose a new quality evaluation method for asphalt concrete mixture using X-ray CT scanner. To achieve this aim, asphalt mixtures should be subjected to the X-ray CT scanning and its characteristics should be clarified. The approach employed in this study was as follows: 1) Coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, filler and bitumen were prepared; 2) dense-graded, coarse-graded and porous asphalt mixtures were made; 3) materials and mixtures were subjected to the X-ray CT scanning; 4) frequency of CT-value, threshold value, average slice CT-value, average segment CT-value were computed. In the material examination, CT-value of aggregate becomes smaller in the order of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate and filler and CT image of bitumen was nearly homogeneous. In the mixture examination, histograms of CT-value and four segmentation images made from CT images expressed the material and mixture characterization such as particle size and the difference in bitumen content and mixture type visibly and the bitumen content varies with the threshold values. In addition, the average segment CT-value without threshold value by dividing the fine aggregate from the coarse aggregate and average CT-value of the coarse aggregate, especially is highly correlated with average CT-value of the bitumen.

Keywords

asphalt concrete mixture / aggregate / bitumen / bitumen content / quality evaluation / X-ray CT

References

[1] Otani J, Mukunoki T, Obara Y. Characterization of failure in sand under triaxial compression using an industrial X-ray CT scanner. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 2002, 2(1): 15–22

[2] Desrues J. Tracking strain localization in geomaterials using computed tomography. In: Proceeding of the 1st International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GEOX2003). Kumamoto, Japan, 27–41

[3] Alshibli K A, Batiste S N, Sture S, Lankton M. Micro-characterization of shearing in granular materials using computed tomography. In: Proceeding of the 2nd International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GeoX2006). Grenoble, France, 2006, 17–34

[4] Bésuelle P, Viggiani G, Lenoir N, Desrues J, Bornert M. X-ray micro CT for studying strain localization in clay rocks under triaxial compression. In: Proceeding of the 2nd International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GeoX2006). Grenoble, France, 2006, 35–52

[5] Otani J. X-ray computed tomography for geotechnical engineering. In: Proceeding of the 2nd International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GeoX2006). Grenoble, France, 2006, 95–115

[6] Chevalier B, Takano D, Otani J. Comparison of X-ray CT and discrete element method in the evaluation of tunnel face failure. In: Proceeding of the 3rd International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GeoX2010). New Orleans, the United States, 2010, 397–405

[7] Temmyo T, Murakami Y, Obara Y. Estimation of structural characteristics of RCD by an X-ray CT method. In: Proceeding of the 1st International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GEOX2003). Kumamoto, Japan, 199–205

[8] Temmyo T, Murakami Y, Obara Y. Evaluation of water cement ratio of hardened cement concrete by X-ray CT method. In: Proceeding of the 2nd International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GeoX2006). Grenoble, France, 2006, 443–449

[9] Synolakis C E, Leahy R M, Singh M B, Zhou Z, Song S M, Shannon D S. Development of an asphalt core tomographer: SHRP-A-656. National Research Council, 1993

[10] Masad E, Muhunthan B, Shashidhar N, Harman T. Internal structure of characterization of asphalt concrete using image analysis. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 1999, 13(2): 88–95

[11] Kutay M E, Aydilek A H. Accuracy of the two common semi-analytical equations in predicting asphalt permeability. In: Proceeding of the 2nd International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GeoX2006). Grenoble, France, 2006, 301–306

[12] Taniguchi S, Nishizaki I, Moriyoshi A. Three-dimensional diagnosis of pavement damage using CT scanner. In: Proceeding of 6th International Conference on Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Pavements and Technological Control (MAIREPAV6). Torino, Italy, 2009, 935–944

[13] You Z, Adhikari S, Kutay M E. Dinamic modulus simulation of the asphalt concrete using the X-ray computed tomography images. Materials and Structures, 2009, 42(5): 617–630

[14] Zelelew H M, Papagiabbakis A T. DEM simulation of asphalt concrete uniaxial creep. In: Proceeding of 6th International Conference on Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Pavements and Technological Control (MAIREPAV6). Torino, Italy, 2009, 242– 251

[15] Carifornia Department of Transportation. Quality Control Manual for Hot Mix Asphalt, 2009

[16] Japan Road Association. Pavement Design and Construction Guideline, 2006 (in Japanese)

[17] Japan Road Association. Pavement Surveying and Testing Handbook, 2007(in Japanese)

[18] Akiba S, Kanou Y. A study on the test for extraction of asphalt from asphalt mixture of the environment balance type using sub-critical water. In: Journal of Pavement Engineering, Japan Society of Civil Engineering, 2010, 15: 23–29 (in Japanese)

[19] Taniguchi S, Otani J, Nishizaki I. New evaluation index of asphalt concrete mixture using X-ray CT method. In: Proceedings of the 6th China-Japan Workshop on Pavement Technologies. Naha, Japan, 2011, 271–279

[20] Taniguchi S, Nishizaki I, Ogawa K, Otani J. A feasibility study on the quality inspection method of asphalt pavement using X-ray CT. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Pavements and Technological Control (MAIREPAV7). Auckland, New Zealand, 2012, No. 53

[21] Taniguchi S, Nishizaki I, Ogawa K, Otani J. New X-ray CT evaluation method of engineering characteristics of asphalt mixture. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics (ICTG). Sapporo, Japan, 2012, No. 57

[22] Otani J. State of the art report on geotechnical X-ray CT research at Kumamoto University. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on X-Ray CT for Geomaterials (GEOX2003). Kumamoto, Japan, 2003, 43–77

[23] Mukunoki T, Kumano N, Otani J. Image analysis of soil failure on defective underground pipe due to cyclic water supply and drainage using X-ray CT. Frontier of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2012, 6(2): 85–100

[24] Parker J R. Algorithms for Image Processing and Computer Vision. Indianapolis: Wiley Computer Publishing, 1997

[25] Japan Road Association. Manual for Asphalt Pavement. Japan Road Association. 1989

Acknowledgements

Authors thank to Mr. Mitsukado N. who was the former student of the graduate school of science and technology at Kumamoto University for his contribution to this study.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg