Journal of the Korean Asphalt Institute ISSN:2234-0785(Print) 2635-9553(Online) 한국아스팔트학회지

Purpose: Acquiring exact and realistic volumetric information and digitalized images of asphalt mixture is a crucial process for the advanced study of asphalt materials. However, the current DIP (Digital Image Processing) analysis procedure does not provide full (and/or reliable) information of asphalt material properties. In this paper, an advanced 2D DIP analysis procedure (and/or algorithm) was developed and introduced for generating more accurate and realistic images of asphalt mixturesas well as for computing volumetric properties (i.e. aggregate, binder and air voids) of given asphalt materials efficiently. Methods: Different volumetric information of six given asphalt mixtures were measured by SGC (Super-pave Gyratory Compactor). Then,the commercial software Adobe Photoshop™ and a specifically designed MATLAB™ image analysis code,which is based on various image filtering and 3D matrix algorithm, were used to generate three-phase image (i.e. colored figure) of prepared asphalt mixtures. Results: Very realistic and accurate 2D asphalt mixture images were acquired. In case of regular mixture, almost identical volumetric information was computed compared to the experimental results. However in case of RAP (Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement) mixtures, 1.2-2.3% of difference in computing asphalt binder and air voids volumetric information was observed. Conclusions: It can be concluded that an advanced 2D DIP analysis procedure can successfully provide more realistic visual and volumetric information of given asphalt mixture. Moreover, this analysis procedure will be useful to various universities and pavement agencies whenthe purchase ofkn expensive 3D X-Ray CT (Computer Tomography) equipment is not affordable.