Evaluation of Two-Dimensional Gray-Scale Images for Microtexture Analysis of Aggregate Surface
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28, Issue 8
Abstract
A powerful texture feature extraction algorithm based on transform-based analysis of two-dimensional (2D) gray-scale images was employed in the aggregate image measurement system (AIMS) to quantitatively describe aggregate surface microtexture by way of a parameter called texture index (TI). TI has been used successfully to distinguish between unpolished and polished aggregates. The main goal of this research was to further evaluate this system using a broader range of aggregates in terms of mineral composition including highly uniform limestone sources and highly variable granitic sources. Results confirmed that TI successfully distinguished polished from unpolished aggregates for all mineral compositions. However, an excessively broad range of TI values was observed. Specifically, TI values of aggregates with highly variable mineral composition were far greater than any value previously reported in the literature. Interestingly, unusually high TI values were also observed for limestone aggregate particles obtained from field cores. It was hypothesized that non-roughness-related features such as surface color pattern resulting from mineral variation and absorbed asphalt resulted in artificially high TI. Independent experimental roughness evaluation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surfaces prepared to the same roughness level confirmed this hypothesis. The results clearly indicated the need for a change in image acquisition and/or analysis algorithm to exclude the effect of surface color pattern in texture analysis of aggregate surface images.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the Florida Department of Transportation for providing technical and financial support and materials for this study.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28 • Issue 8 • August 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 12, 2015
Accepted: Oct 30, 2015
Published online: Feb 12, 2016
Discussion open until: Jul 12, 2016
Published in print: Aug 1, 2016
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