Evaluating Asphalt Mix Ingredients by Moisture Susceptibility: The Development of a New Modified Boiling Test Procedure Based on Digital Imaging
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 34, Issue 11
Abstract
The modified boiling test based on image processing has gained significant attention in recent years, aimed at replacing subjective visual observation with an objective measurement. However, there are still some unsolved problems influencing the accuracy of the test such as the shadow between aggregate particles and the selection of threshold values for binary image conversion. Based on these challenges, an innovative modified boiling test procedure based on digital imaging has been successfully developed for the purpose of rating asphalt mix ingredients via moisture susceptibility. The new method focuses on a single piece of aggregate with a newly cut smooth surface, and then the aggregate coated by asphalt is subjected to the boiling test. Changes to the thickness of the asphalt coating on the fresh surface before and after boiling can be captured indirectly by digital images and reflected by the changing average grayscale values. The experimental results of 20 asphalt-aggregate combinations clearly showed the moisture damage resistance of different samples and the effect of liquid antistripping agent. In addition, the test results correlated well with energy ratios based on the surface free energy measurements of asphalt and aggregate. A decreased stripping rate over time were also observed for all samples and no significant stripping was found after 90 min of boiling. The selection of a suitable boiling time is critical to the accuracy of the test, which can be determined by trial-and-error methods. The proposed modified boiling test avoids the disadvantages of previously developed methods and provides a quick way to evaluate the asphalt mixture ingredients by moisture susceptibility, making it possible to test a large amount of samples within a short period of time. The new method can be used to generate an initial selection of asphalt-aggregate combinations in place of the surface free energy method.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Aguiar-Moya, J. P., J. Salazar-Delgado, A. Baldi-Sevilla, F. Leiva-Villacorta, and L. Loria-Salazar. 2015. “Effect of aging on adhesion properties of asphalt mixtures with the use of bitumen bond strength and surface energy measurement tests.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2505 (1): 57–65. https://doi.org/10.3141/2505-08.
Amelian, S., S. M. Abtahi, and S. M. Hejazi. 2014. “Moisture susceptibility evaluation of asphalt mixes based on image analysis.” Constr. Build. Mater. 63 (Jul): 294–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.012.
ASTM. 2015. Standard practice for effect of water on bituminous-coated aggregate using boiling water. ASTM D3625. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Bhasin, A., E. Masad, D. Little, and R. Lytton. 2006. “Limits on adhesive bond energy for improved resistance of hot-mix asphalt to moisture damage.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1970 (1): 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198106197000101.
Birgisson, B., R. Roque, G. C. Page, and J. Wang. 2007. “Development of new moisture-conditioning procedure for hot-mix asphalt.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2001 (1): 46–55. https://doi.org/10.3141/2001-06.
Hefer, A. W., A. Bhasin, and D. N. Little. 2006. “Bitumen surface energy characterization using a contact angle approach.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 18 (6): 759–767. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2006)18:6(759).
Huang, B., X. Shu, Q. Dong, and J. Shen. 2010. “Laboratory evaluation of moisture susceptibility of hot-mix asphalt containing cementitious fillers.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 22 (7): 667–673. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000064.
Khodaii, A., F. Moghadas Nejad, S. A. Forough, and A. Saleh Ahari. 2014. “Investigating the effects of loading frequency and temperature on moisture sensitivity of SBS-modified asphalt mixtures.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 26 (5): 897–903. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000875.
Kiggundu, B. M., and F. L. Roberts. 1988. Stripping in HMA mixtures: State-of-the-art and critical review of test methods. Auburn, AL: National Center for Asphalt Technology.
Kringos, N., H. Azari, and A. Scarpas. 2009. “Identification of parameters related to moisture conditioning that cause variability in modified Lottman test.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2127 (1): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3141/2127-01.
Kumar, T., and K. Verma. 2010. “A theory based on conversion of RGB image to gray image.” Int. J. Comput. Appl. 3 (10): 7–12. https://doi.org/10.5120/777-1099.
Ling, C., A. Hanz, and H. Bahia. 2016. “Measuring moisture susceptibility of cold mix asphalt with a modified boiling test based on digital imaging.” Constr. Build. Mater. 105 (Feb): 391–399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.093.
Little, D. N., D. H. Allen, and A. Bhasin. 2018. Modeling and design of flexible pavements and materials. Berlin: Springer.
Logaraj, S. 2002. “Chemistry of asphalt-aggregate interaction–Influence of additives.” In Proc., Moisture Damage Symp. Laramie, WY: Western Research Institute.
Lučić, S., V. Kovačević, and D. Hace. 1998. “Mechanical properties of adhesive thin films.” Int. J. Adhes. Adhes. 18 (2): 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0143-7496(97)00033-X.
Miller, C., D. N. Little, A. Bhasin, N. Gardner, and B. Herbert. 2012. “Surface energy characteristics and impact of natural minerals on aggregate–bitumen bond strengths and asphalt mixture durability.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2267 (1): 45–55. https://doi.org/10.3141/2267-05.
Pinto, I., Y. Kim, and H. Ban. 2009. Moisture sensitivity of hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures in Nebraska: Phase II. Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Transportation Center.
Polaczyk, P., Y. Ma, R. Xiao, W. Hu, X. Jiang, and B. Huang. 2021. “Characterization of aggregate interlocking in hot mix asphalt by mechanistic performance tests.” Supplement, Road Mater. Pavement Des. 22 (S1): S498–S513. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2021.1908408.
Sinkonde, D., H. P. Wen, and X. Q. Yi. 2007. “Evaluate the simple surface energy of aggregates using the capillary rise method.” J. Test. Eval. 35 (6): 618–623.
Swiertz, D., P. Johannes, L. Tashman, and H. Bahia. 2012. Evaluation of laboratory coating and compaction procedures for cold mix asphalt. In Proc., Association of Asphalt Technologists, 81. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Technologists.
Van Oss, C. J., M. K. Chaudhury, and R. J. Good. 1988. “Interfacial Lifshitz-van der Waals and polar interactions in macroscopic systems.” Chem. Rev. 88 (6): 927–941. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr00088a006.
Van Oss, C. J., L. Ju, M. K. Chaudhury, and R. J. Good. 1989. “Estimation of the polar parameters of the surface tension of liquids by contact angle measurements on gels.” J. Colloid Interface Sci. 128 (2): 313–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9797(89)90345-7.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 5, 2021
Accepted: Mar 2, 2022
Published online: Aug 23, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jan 23, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Rui Xiao, Jingtao Zhong, Baoshan Huang, Discussion of “Investigation of Adhesion Property between Asphalt Binder and Aggregate Using Modified Boiling Methods for Hot and Wet Area”, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-16341, 36, 3, (2024).
- Ning Xu, Hainian Wang, Yu Chen, Mojtaba Kamani, Huimin Wang, Microscopic Analysis of Aging Effects on the Adhesion Properties between Asphalt and Mineral Aggregate, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-15381, 35, 7, (2023).
- Rui Xiao, Baoshan Huang, Moisture Damage Mechanism and Thermodynamic Properties of Hot-Mix Asphalt under Aging Conditions, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c04786, 10, 45, (14865-14887), (2022).
- Rui Xiao, Pawel Polaczyk, Yanhai Wang, Yuetan Ma, Hang Lu, Baoshan Huang, Measuring moisture damage of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) by digital imaging-assisted modified boiling test (ASTM D3625): Recent advancements and further investigation, Construction and Building Materials, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128855, 350, (128855), (2022).