2013 Session: 745

• Laser Spectrographic Pattern Matching for Rapid Mineral Aggregate Classification
  Abstract: Mineral aggregates were found to exhibit unique spectral fingerprints or spectral patterns, when subjected to a high irradiance induced by focusing a high powered laser onto very tiny spot on a target aggregate material. These spectral patterns were successfully correlated with engineering material properties of the targeted material. Using multivariate determinant models, the acid insoluble residue content, the presence of D-cracking susceptibility and alkali-silica reactivity were accurately predicted on aggregates supplied by New York, Kansas and Texas DOTs, respectively. The subject technology has the potential to rapidly classify material properties providing material suppliers and transportation agencies with a real time, recording tool for monitoring materials used in highway construction.
  Authors: Chesner, Warren H.; McMillan, Nancy
  Authors: Chesner, Warren H.; McMillan, Nancy
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-0480
• Evaluation of Aggregate Imaging Techniques for Quantification of Morphological Characteristics
  Abstract: Aggregate morphological characteristics, including shape, angularity and surface texture, have a significant impact on the engineering properties of construction materials, such as hot-mix asphalt, and hydraulic cement concrete, etc. Consequently, quantification of morphological characteristics of aggregates are essential for quality control of both aggregate production and pavement construction. Imaging techniques provide a cost-effective means to conveniently measure the aggregate morphological characteristics without laborious work. However, these imaging techniques adopt various mathematical methods with different instrument setups, resulting in different definitions of morphological descriptors that are usually incomparable with each other. This paper evaluates prevalent image techniques used for aggregate morphological characteristics analysis, including equipment cost, repeatability and reliability, etc. Three imaging techniques, i.e., the second generation aggregate imaging measurement system (AIMS II), the first generation University of Illinois Aggregate Image Analyzer (UIAIA), and Fourier Transform Interferometer (FTI) system, are further evaluated by comparing the analysis results of seven types of aggregates of passing 3/4’’ sieve and retaining on 1/2’’ sieve in size with manual measurements and visual rankings. Analysis of variance between measurements using different methods is also conducted to evaluate the accuracy of each aggregate imaging system. Based on the data analysis, recommendations are made for the selection of appropriate imaging analysis techniques depending on which morphological characteristics engineers are most interested in.
  Authors: Wang, Linbing; Sun, Wenjuan; Tutumluer, Erol; Druta, Cristian
  Authors: Wang, Linbing; Sun, Wenjuan; Tutumluer, Erol; Druta, Cristian
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-2955
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Aggregate Size and Shape Evaluation using Segmentation Techniques and Aggregate Image Processing Algorithms
  Abstract: Morphological properties of mineral aggregates are known to affect pavement and railroad track mechanistic behavior and performance significantly in terms of strength, modulus and permanent deformation. With imaging technology, an objective and accurate measurement of aggregate particle size and shape properties can be obtained in a rapid, reliable and automated fashion. Yet, there is a need to bring these advances in aggregate imaging to project sites and quarries in the field. This paper introduces field image acquisition and processing techniques for extraction and analyses of individual aggregate particle size and shape properties. Referred to as segmentation techniques, image processing methods developed in this study analyzed 2-D field images of aggregates captured by a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. The segmented aggregate images were fed into the validated University of Illinois Aggregate Image Analyzer (UIAIA) to quantify particle size and shape properties by means of its image processing algorithms for Flat and Elongated Ratio (FER), Angularity Index (AI), and Surface Texture Index (STI). The developed method successfully determined the properties of coarse aggregate samples collected from various depths in a railroad track ballast layer. The promising preliminary results indicate that these segmentation techniques can be considered in the field to capture several aggregate particles rapidly and reliably in a single image so that individual particle size and shape properties can be analyzed and further, both spatial property variability and property changes with layer depth and usage, i.e., property degradation in time, can be evaluated under service loading.
  Authors: Moaveni, Maziar; Wang, Shengnan; Hart, John M.; Tutumluer, Erol; Ahuja, Narendra
  Authors: Moaveni, Maziar; Wang, Shengnan; Hart, John M.; Tutumluer, Erol; Ahuja, Narendra
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-4167
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Analytical and Laser Scanning Techniques to Determine Shape Properties of Mineral Aggregates
  Abstract: The fundamental shape attributes of aggregates used in pavements i.e., form, angularity, and surface texture have not been accurately quantified historically, because of their irregular and non-ideal shapes. This paper presents selected results using a laser-based scanning technique to determine the form of aggregates used in construction of pavements in South Africa. A three-dimensional (3-D) laser scanning system was used to scan aggregate materials from different sources, and the data were processed to reconstruct 3-D models of the aggregate particles. The models were further analyzed to determine the form properties. In this paper, two analysis approaches, based on aggregate physical properties and spherical harmonic analysis, were employed to determine the aggregate form indices. The aggregate form indices obtained from the physical aggregate properties were compared with the form indices computed based on the spherical harmonic analysis. The indices based on the physical properties include sphericity computed from the surface area and volume, sphericity computed from three orthogonal dimensions, and flat and elongated ratio computed from the longest and shortest dimensions of an aggregate particle. Good correlations were observed between the form indices obtained from the aggregate physical properties, and the spherical harmonic form index. It is concluded that laser scanning technique could be employed to better quantify the form properties of aggregate materials used in pavements.
  Authors: Anochie-Boateng, Joseph; Komba, Julius; Steyn, Wynand Jacobus van der Merwe
  Authors: Anochie-Boateng, Joseph; Komba, Julius; Steyn, Wynand Jacobus van der Merwe
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-4454
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Laser Spectrographic Pattern Matching for Rapid Mineral Aggregate Classification
  Authors: Chesner, Warren
  Authors: Chesner, Warren
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-0480
• Evaluation of Aggregate Imaging Techniques for Quantification of Morphological Characteristics
  Authors: Wang, Linbing
  Authors: Wang, Linbing
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-2955
• Aggregate Size and Shape Evaluation using Segmentation Techniques and Aggregate Image Processing Algorithms
  Authors: Moaveni, Maziar
  Authors: Moaveni, Maziar
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-4167
• Analytical and Laser Scanning Techniques to Determine Shape Properties of Mineral Aggregates
  Authors: Anochie-Boateng, Joseph
  Authors: Anochie-Boateng, Joseph
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Geotechnology; Materials
  Session: 745
  Paper Number: 13-4454