Evaluation of Asphalt Field Cores with Simple Performance Tester and X-ray Computed Tomography

The importance of aggregate structure and air voids distribution for asphalt mixture rutting and cracking performance has been well established on the basis of experience and is well documented in the literature. Past and current investigations are limited to assessment of performance based on macroscopic behavior due to the difficulty associated with the quantitative measurement and analysis of the internal structure of asphalt mixtures. Lately, technical advances in X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) and image processing and analysis has made possible to bring the attention also to the internal structure of asphalt mixtures. SPT results from asphalt field cores, including dynamic modulus (before and after loading) and microstrain accumulation (flow number), exhibited significant variability; most likely, induced by irregularities in the core shape. The analysis of aggregate structure and air voids distribution performed trough X-ray CT, clearly identified segregation in the asphalt mixture as a key factor that induced variability in SPT results.QC 2012032