Due to environmental concerns and to the limited amount of fossil fuel in the world theinterest in using renewable material has been and will continue to be on the rise. With theincreasing demand for renewable materials such as bio-based fibers, the research aroundnatural fibers is intensifying. Abaca (Musa Texitilis Nee) is a plant endemic to the Philippineswhich is claimed to contain the strongest natural fiber in the world 1. However, no thoroughresearch on performing tensile strength test on single abaca fibers/cells has been found. Byperforming tensile strength test on the single abaca fibers and relate this will provide freshdata about the single abaca fiber strength that can be compared with other natural fibers.This can later be a reference tool in order to find the optimal fiber for the product to be made. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for performing tensile strength testson single abaca fibers with the major objective to relate the tensile strength and E-modulusof the fibers with their microfibrillar angle (MFA). The research was done by using Abaca(grade S2) from Camarines Sur (Philippines) that was chemically disintegrated in order toobtain single fibers. The single fibers were mounted to a custom made paper frame for thetensile strength test performed by an Instron 5944. The MFA of each fiber was also retrievedusing an optical microscope with a polarized filter. The research showed an indication of aninversely proportional relation between MFA and tensile strength of the fibers. According tothe results, the E-modulus of the single abaca fiber was almost constant, independently onthe MFA of the fiber. / The purpose of this study is to do a broad map out of the abaca industry in the Philippines. Furthermore, the study aims to provide an overview of the abaca industry as a tool for finding ways to optimize the fiber production and to find suggestions on how to make a bigger share of the profit from the abaca products to stay by the farmers in the Philippines. The objectives are therefore also focused on describing the way the abaca plant is cultivated, harvested, processed, and further distributed from the farms. Also, the objectives are to describe the abaca supply and demand situation along with identifying challenges for abaca production. Today the outmoded abaca production in the Philippines is experiencing a productivity loss which makes the farmers' incomes unnecessarily low. Important factors that, by this study, have been identified affecting the low productivity and profit are lack of proper farming management, distribution and unoptimized usage of the fibers. A big share of the abaca fibers produced is also being exported. This means that the raw fibers are being made into high-value products abroad and hence the profit to be made is dislocated further from the farmers with low means of improving their standard of living. The study has been performed by doing a literature study complemented with interviews and visits to abaca farmers and other stakeholders within the abaca industry.

No description available.

Rapid Prototyped part failure constitutes a major issue for both RP providers and customers. When parts fail the reputation of the vendor is heavily deteriorated, customer dissatisfaction increase and replacement of the broken parts is often necessary to avoid the loss of future business. Product design teams often run into situations where Rapid Prototyped parts are not able to withstand shipping and handling and delivered broken or while demonstrating and examining the parts. When done in the face of customers this builds a perception of poor quality and lack of aptitude on the design group as well as the RP processes. The rapid advance of the RP industry and technology has led users to employ RP parts for structural applications where the need to understand in great detail and accuracy the mechanical behavior of the product and its individual components is greater than ever. Models built on Rapid Prototyping (RP) equipment are most often made from polymers which frequently have mechanical properties that are inferior to those manufactured by traditional methods such as thermoforming or injection molding. Not only are the mechanical properties of RP models typically low, they are usually, at least in thin sections, directly dependent on the section or wall thickness of the models. This dependence of strength on wall thickness makes it difficult to predict a proper wall thickness for RP models, even when nominal values of material strength are known. The purpose of this work is to present and compare measured values of tensile strength and stiffness as a function of wall thickness for three RP processes and materials. These properties will assist designers estimating adequate minimum wall thicknesses for models built by the three processes. The three RP technologies included in the scope of this research are: Z Corporation (powder with polymer binder layup), Fuse Deposition Modeling and PolyJet Layup (Objet). The findings of this study establish that tensile strength and stiffness values are dependent upon wall thickness, building orientation and direction of the applied force of specimens created with the methods in consideration. It was also determined that the correlation between thickness and strength for all processes is non-linear. Due to these results a single tensile strength and modulus value for each material and all wall thicknesses do not accurately represent their behavior. However, these results will allow a designer to understand the relationship between the wall thickness and using the data provided in this work be able to model and then fabricate adequate 3D prototypes.

No description available.

A irradiação de sistemas adesivos com laser tem obtido resultados promissores, no entanto, seu mecanismo de ação, bem como a longevidade da camada híbrida obtida após a irradiação com laser ainda não estão bem estabelecidos na literatura. A presente tese teve como objetivo: avaliar a absorvância do laser de Diodo por diferentes sistemas adesivos por meio de espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo; avaliar a evaporação de água e solventes proporcionada pelo laser por meio da variação da massa analisada em balança de precisão; avaliar a resistência de união por meio de teste de microtração após envelhecimento de 12 meses. Os dados obtidos foram analisados por modelos de ANOVA, seguidos de teste Tukey (p<0,05) e os resultados demonstraram que: a irradiação no infravermelho próximo, área do espectro eletromagnético que compreende o laser de Diodo, não apresenta interação com os sistemas adesivos testados; o laser de Diodo é capaz de proporcionar maior alteração de massa, mesmo após contínua evaporação dos solventes com jatos de ar por 60s; sistemas adesivos simplificados apresentaram valores de resistência de união imediato semelhantes aos valores obtidos após 12 meses de envelhecimento. Os dados obtidos neste estudo sugerem que a irradiação com laser de Diodo pode contribuir favoravelmente para a adesão em dentina com sistemas adesivos simplificados após 1 ano. / The laser irradiation of adhesive systems has obtained promising results, however, its mechanism of action, as well as the longevity of the hybrid layer obtained after laser irradiation are still not yet well established in the literature. This thesis aimed to: assess the diode laser interaction with different adhesive systems by means of near infrared spectroscopy; evaluate the evaporation of solvents and water provided by the laser through the mass variation analyzed at a precision balance; evaluate the bond strength through microtensile bond strength test after 12 months of aging. The data was analyzed through ANOVA models, followed by Tukey test (p<0.05), and the results demonstrated that: in the near-infrared irradiation area, the electromagnetic spectrum comprising the diode laser, shows no interaction with the adhesive systems tested; the diode laser was able to provide greater mass variation, even after continual evaporation of solvents with air jets for 60s; simplified adhesive systems presented immediate bond strength values similar to the ones verified after 12 months of aging. The data obtained in this study suggest that the Diode laser irradiation can contribute favorably for the adhesion between dentin and simplified adhesive systems after 1 year.

O estudo avaliou a efetividade de tratamentos de superfície na modificação superficial e adesão da zircônia ao cimento resinoso; a estabilidade de união após ciclagem termomecânica entre coroas metal free com copings em zircônia ou coroas monolíticas em zircônia e pilares personalizados do mesmo material, submetidos a tratamento superficial, e a influência destes na sobrevida dos sistemas protéticos após fadiga termomecânica acelerada. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em 2 etapas. Na primeira, discos de zircônia foram distribuídos em sete grupos (n=6): G1 (Rocatec); G2 (ácido hidrofluorídrico 40%, 210 segundos); G3 (ácido hidrofluorídrico 40%, 210 segundos + Rocatec); G4 (nanopartícula ZrO2); G5 (nanopartícula SiO2); G6 (nanopartícula SiO2ZrO2); G7 (nanopartícula SiO2ZrO2 + silano). Uma amostra por grupo (n=1) foi analisada por espectroscopia infravermelho (FTIR), difração de raios-x (DRX) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). As demais, submetidas a microscopia confocal a laser (n=5) para determinação da rugosidade superficial (Ra) e teste de cisalhamento. Molhabilidade e energia de superfície foram desenvolvidas em triplicata (n=3). G1, G3, G5 e G7 apresentaram valores de resistência ao cisalhamento superiores aos demais. Os melhores resultados definiram os tratamentos da etapa seguinte. Na segunda etapa, 162 análogos de implante conexão tipo Morse foram utilizados. Sobre eles, instaladas bases de titânio conectando pilar de zircônia ao análogo. Os 162 pilares foram distribuídos em 2 grupos de acordo com o ensaio: ciclagem termomecânica ou fadiga termomecânica acelerada. Para cada ensaio, duas modalidades restauradoras foram planejadas (Mono - coroa monolítica em zircônia, Pren - coping em zircônia + cobertura de vitrocerâmica fluorapatita). Pilares foram distribuídos a depender do tratamento recebido: MonoRo (Rocatec), MonoSi (nanopartícula SiO2), MonoSiZr (nanopartícula SiO2ZrO2 + silano). Grupo Pren recebeu os mesmos tratamentos. Sobre pilares, foram cimentadas coroas. Coroas monolíticas, copings e pilares foram obtidos via CAD/CAM. A adesão foi quantificada por teste de resistência à tração após ciclagem termomecânica (n=9) (2x106 ciclos, 2Hz, 120N e ciclos térmicos de 5º-55ºC). Valores de resistência à tração e padrões de falha obtidos foram registrados. Não foram encontradas diferenças significantes entre grupos para resistência à tração, mas o comportamento médio da força foi diferente nos grupos dependendo da falha. Sobrevida dos conjuntos foi analisada após fadiga termomecânica acelerada (n=18) (cargas progressivas a cada 2x104 ciclos de 80, 120, 160, 200, 240, 280 e 320N em 5Hz até 14x104 ou a falha, com ciclos térmicos de 5º- 55ºC). Resistência à fadiga foi comparada pela probabilidade de sobrevivência em cada intervalo. Padrões de falha foram classificados em ambos testes e amostras representativas de cada falha analisadas em MEV. MonoRo e MonoSiZr são semelhantes e têm maior probabilidade de sobrevivência que os demais. Pertencer a PrenSiZr, MonoSi, PrenRo ou PrenSi diminui a probabilidade de sobrevivência. / The study evaluated the effectiveness of surface treatments in surface modification and zirconia adhesion to resin cement; the bonding stability after thermomechanical cycling between free metal crowns with zirconia copings or monolithic zirconia crowns and customized abutments of the same material, subjected to surface treatments, and their influence in the survival of prosthetic systems after accelerated thermomechanical fatigue. The research was developed in 2 stages. In the first, zirconia discs were distributed in seven groups (n = 6): G1 (Rocatec); G2 (hydrofluoric acid 40%, 210 seconds); G3 (hydrofluoric acid 40%, 210 seconds + Rocatec); G4 (nanoparticle ZrO2); G5 (SiO2 nanoparticle); G6 (SiO2ZrO2 nanoparticle); G7 (SiO2ZrO2 nanoparticle + silane). One sample per group (n = 1) was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The others were submitted to laser confocal microscopy (n = 5) for determination of surface roughness (Ra) and shear test. Wettability and surface energy were developed in triplicate (n = 3). G1, G3, G5 and G7 presented higher values of shear strength than the others. The best results defined the treatments of the next stage. In the second stage, 162 Morse type implant analogues were used. On them, installed a titanium base, connecting zirconia abutment to analog. The 162 abutments were distributed in 2 groups according to the test: thermomechanical cycling or accelerated thermomechanical fatigue. For each test, two restorative modalities were planned (Mono - monolithic zirconia, Pren - zirconia coping + vitroceramic fluorapatite revestment). Abutments were distributed depending on the treatment received: MonoRo (Rocatec), MonoSi (nanoparticle SiO2), MonoSiZr (nanoparticle SiO2ZrO2 + silane). The Pren Group received the same treatments. Crowns were cemented on abutments. Monolithic crowns, copings and abutments were obtained by CAD/CAM. The adhesion was quantified by tensile strength test after thermomechanical cycling (n = 9) (2x106 cycles, 2Hz, 120N and thermal cycles of 5º-55ºC). Values of tensile strength and obtained failure patterns were recorded. No significant differences were found between groups for tensile strength, but mean force behavior was different in groups depending on failure. The survival of the sets was analyzed after accelerated thermomechanical fatigue (n = 18) (progressive loads every 2x104 cycles of 80, 120, 160, 200, 240, 280 and 320N in 5Hz up to 14x104 or failure, with thermal cycles of 5º- 55ºC). Fatigue resistance was compared by the probability of survival at each interval. Failure patterns were classified in both tests and representative samples of each failure analyzed in SEM. MonoRo and MonoSiZr are similar and more likely to survive than the others. Belonging to PrenSiZr, MonoSi, PrenRo or PrenSi reduces the probability of survival.

Este estudo in vitro teve como objetivo determinar a infiltração marginal e resistência à remoção por tração de coroas totalmente metálicas, cimentadas com cimento de fosfato de zinco e que foram submetidas à abertura oclusal para tratamento endodôntico. Foram usados 20 dentes molares (Banco Permanente de Dentes Humanos da FOUSP). Os dentes foram fixados sobre uma base acrílica de secção circular e foram torneados configurando preparos para coroas totais com dimensões de altura e diâmetro padronizadas. Coroas metálicas em Ni Cr foram fundidas através da técnica de enceramento direto e cimentadas com cimento de fosfato de zinco com carga axial de 5 Kg por 10 minutos. Os corpos de prova foram divididos em: Grupos Controle GC1 e GC2, que utilizaram os mesmos corpos de prova, e Grupo Experimental (GE). Todos os corpos de prova foram mantidos em água destilada para que não se desidratassem. Os espécimes dos grupos GC1 e GC2 foram mantidos sem nenhuma intervenção e os do grupo GE foram perfurados com broca de carbide de tungstênio, simulando uma cirurgia de acesso endodôntico. As amostras dos grupos GC2 e GE foram submetidas à ciclagem térmica de 700 ciclos entre 5º e 55º C. Em seguida foram mantidos em uma solução de azul de metileno 0,5%, ph 7,2 por 4 horas a 37º C. Foram submetidos ao ensaio mecânico de tração das coroas em uma máquina universal de ensaios Kratos SV 100, regulada para trabalhar a uma velocidade de ensaio de 0,5 mm/minuto. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística pelos testes t de Student e as infiltrações avaliadas pela correlação linear de Spearman. A análise inferencial dos resultados dos testes de tração demonstrou com um nível de significância p=0,108, entre os grupos GC1 e GC2, e p=0,502, entre os grupos GC2 e GE, não haver diferença estatisticamente significante. As médias dos valores obtidos nos testes de tração e os seus respectivos desvios padrão foram: GC1 13,96+/-4, 48, GC2 11,26+/-2,269 e GE 10,09+/-4,86 (valores em Kgf). A análise visual subjetiva da infiltração nos corpos de prova indicou que o grupo GE apresentou o maior grau de infiltração marginal com presença do corante atingindo o terço oclusal das paredes axiais (mediana dos scores 3). O grupo GC2 apresentou infiltração marginal no terço médio (mediana dos scores 2). O grupo GC1 apresentou infiltração marginal no terço cervical e médio (mediana dos scores 1). / This in vitro study had the objective to determine the marginal microleakage and the retentive strength of totally metallic crowns, cemented with zinc phosphate cement and subjected to occlusal access for endodontic treatment. 20 human molars (Banco Permanente de Dentes Humanos da FOUSP) have been used for the experiment. The teeth were fixed on a circular acrylic section base and were prepared with standardized dimensions. Metallic crowns in Ni Cr were cast with the direct waxing technique and cemented with zinc phosphate cement with vertical load of 5 kg for 10 minutes. The specimens were divided in groups: Group Control 1 (GP1), Group Control 2 (GP2) and Group Experimental (GE). All the specimens were kept on distillated water so that they wouldn’t dehydrate. The specimens of the groups GC1 and GC2 were kept without any intervention and the ones of the group GE were drilled with a tungstein carbide bur, simulating an endodontic access surgery. Next, the samples of groups GC2 and GE were subjected to a thermal cycling of 700 cycles between 5º and 55º C. To verify the existence of micro infiltration, it was used the methylene blue dye test, 0,5%, ph 7,2 for 4 hours at 37ºC. The specimens were subjected to the load of tension in a universal tensile testing machine Kratos SV 100 at speed 0,5 mm/min. Statistical analyses with t tests showed no significant difference between crown retention before and after endodontic access preparation (p=0,108). The mean displacement forces were: GC1 13,96+/-4,48, GC2 11,26+/-2,269 e GE 10,09+/-4,86 (value in Kgf). With the Spearman’s evaluation test the microleakage was measured. The results showed a greater median of score in GE (score 3). The GC2 and GC1 showed median scores 2 and 1 in order.

Foi verificada a influência de 6 variáveis experimentais sobre o ensaio de microtração, a saber: sistema adesivo, formato e área de união dos corpos-de-prova (cps), velocidade e equipamento de corte e definição do grupo amostral no tratamento estatístico. Todas as variáveis foram testadas em esmalte e dentina previamente planificados. Para isolar as variáveis, o estudo foi dividido em quatro fases. 1) testou-se o tipo de adesivo: 28 molares humanos foram divididos em 4 grupos, de acordo com o substrato e com o adesivo utilizado (Excite e Clearfil SE Bond). 2) 64 dentes divididos em 16 grupos foram usados para testar: formato (ampulheta ou palito) e área de união dos cps. 3) testou-se a velocidade de corte para a obtenção dos cps, usando-se 30 molares divididos em 6 grupos. 4) 40 molares divididos em 8 grupos foram usados para analisar: equipamento de corte (disco ou fio impregnados por diamante), formato dos cps e delimitação do grupo amostral. Em todas as fases, cps foram selecionados e preparados para MEV, enquanto o restante foi submetido ao teste de microtração. Os valores de resistência de união [RU] foram coerentes com os achados em MEV, sendo os maiores valores encontrados nos grupos com melhor integridade superficial. Foi possível observar que não houve diferença estatística entre o substrato e o adesivo utilizado na fase 1. Apesar de ambos os adesivos terem conseguido íntimo contato com o substrato adjacente, muitos defeitos estruturais foram observados em MEV, principalmente em esmalte. Na fase 2, cps em dentina e em forma de palito apresentaram valores significantemente maiores de RU do que cps em esmalte e em forma de ampulheta, respectivamente. Em relação à área dos cps, quando essa aumentou de 0,25 para 4,0 mm 2 , a RU diminuiu significantemente. Foi possível verificar em cps com forma de ampulheta, através da MEV, linhas de fraturas juntamente à área de ação da.ponta diamantada, além de defeitos nos cps em forma de palito, sendo que o esmalte foi mais afetado do que a dentina. Já na fase 3, cps em dentina apresentaram maior RU do que cps em esmalte. A velocidade de corte não influenciou nos resultados dos cps em dentina, influenciando, contudo, a RU daqueles em esmalte, sendo que os cortados com velocidade alta (400 RPM) mostraram defeitos mais pronunciados em MEV e menores RU do que os cortados com velocidades menores (100 e 200 RPM). Na fase 4, cps em esmalte cortados com o fio impregnado por diamante foram estatisticamente mais resistentes do que aqueles cortados com disco, sendo que este grupo apresentou maior quantidade de defeitos em MEV, o mesmo não acontecendo em dentina. Cps em forma de palito foram mais resistentes do que aqueles em forma de ampulheta. A inclusão/exclusão das fraturas prematuras foi estatisticamente significante para ambos os substratos. Concluímos que cps em forma de ampulheta devem ser evitados, principalmente em esmalte, recomendando, assim, o uso de cps em forma de palito, com áreas próximas a 1 mm 2 . O seccionamento para obtenção dos cps em esmalte deve ser feito preferencialmente com fio. Quando a utilização do disco for inevitável, velocidades baixas são aconselháveis. A inclusão das fraturas prematuras, como valor de resistência de união igual a zero, proporciona resultados mais representativos sobre o complexo processo que envolve o teste de microtração. / The influence of 6 methodological parameters in the results of the microtensile test was evaluated, as described: adhesive system, shape and area of the specimens, cutting speed and equipment, experimental groups’ definition for the statistical analyses. All variables were tested in flattened dentin and enamel. 1) The type of adhesive system was evaluated: 28 human molars were divided into 4 groups according to the substrate and the adhesive used (Excite or Clearfil SE Bond). 2) 64 teeth divided into 16 groups were used to test: shape (hourglass and stick) and area of the specimens. 3) Cutting speed used to obtain specimens was tested, using 30 molars divided into 6 groups. 4) 40 molars were divided into 8 groups and used to analyze: cutting equipment (blade or wire impregnated by diamond), shape of the specimens and experimental groups’ delimitation. In all the above trials, some specimens were randomly selected and prepared for SEM, while the remaining were submitted to microtensile test. Microtensile bond strength data collected was coherent to the SEM images observed; higher values were found for the groups wherein better integrity was observed. It was possible to verify that there were no statistically differences between substrates and adhesives used in the first trial. Even tough both systems showed intimate contact with the adjacent tissue, many structural defects were observed in SEM, mainly in enamel. In the test 2, dentin and stick-shaped specimens gave significantly higher values of bond strength than enamel and hourglass-shaped specimens, respectively. As for specimens’ thickness, when it increases from 0.25 to 4.0 mm 2 , the recorded microtensile bond strength decreases. It was possible to verify, through SEM, line of fracture in the area of action of the bur in the hourglass-shaped specimens and structural defects in the stick-shaped specimens, being enamel more affected than dentin. In the third trial, specimens in dentin showed significantly higher values of bond strength than specimens in enamel..Cutting speed did not influence the results of the dentin’s specimens; however, it influenced those in enamel, where the ones cut with higher cutting speed (400 RPM) had more pronounced defects in SEM and lower bond strength values when compared to those cut with lower cutting speeds (100 and 200 RPM). In the experiment 4, enamel’s specimens sectioned with the diamond wire showed statistically higher bond strengths than those cut with blade, being this last group the one that showed more structural defects during SEM analyzes, which did not happen in dentin. Stick-shaped specimens were more resistant than hourglass-shaped specimens. The inclusion/exclusion of premature failures was statistically significant for both substrates. We conclude that hourglass-shaped specimens should be avoided, especially on enamel, where the use of stick specimens is highly recommended, with cross-sectional area of 1 mm 2 . The sectioning action to obtain enamel specimens should be done with wire equipments. However, when the use of diamond blade is unavoidable, low cutting speeds are advisable. Premature failures should be included as null bond strength values to represent fully all factors involved in the microtensile process.

This dissertation has focused on the solid-state characterization of different co-crystal system as well as the effect of co-crystallization of these systems on pharmaceutical dosage form performance. Urea/ 2-MB, caffeine/ malonic acid, caffeine/ oxalic acid and theophylline/ malonic acid co-crystals were prepared using co-grinding- and co-precipitation techniques. In addition, the synthesis of co-crystals through two novel methods has been demonstrated. This includes compaction and convection mixing. The solid-state characterization of the co-crystals has been carried out using XRPD, Raman spectroscopy, DSC, TGA, hot-stage microscopy and SEM. After preparation of co-crystals, tablets have been produced from co-ground-, co-precipitated-, and physical mixtures using Compaction Studies Press (Kaleva), and the data were recorded to compare between the different mixtures, regarding compactibilty, compressibility and deformational properties. The DSC results showed that the physical mixtures of all systems, formed co-crystals during heating process. For systems of urea/ 2-MB, caffeine/ malonic acid and theophylline/ malonic acid, the co-ground mixture produced tablets with higher tensile strength compared with either co-precipitated or physical mixture. However, for caffeine/ oxalic acid system, the tensile strengths of compacts produced from the physical mixture were greater than those obtained from either co-ground or co-precipitated mixtures. The Heckel data suggested that urea/ 2-MB, caffeine/ malonic acid and theophylline/ malonic acid systems are Type 1 materials, as an extensive linearity during compression was indicative of a plastic deformation mechanism, while the caffeine/ oxalic acid system was Type 2 materials. However, the co-precipitated mixture of urea/ 2-MB system was the least compressible, as it possessed the greatest value of yield pressure (85 MPa) and the highest elastic recovery (7.42%). The co-precipitated mixture of both of caffeine/ malonic acid and theophylline/ malonic acid systems was the most compressible with small yield pressure values of (44 & 80 MPa) and elastic recovery of (7.2% & 6.56%), respectively. The co-ground mixture of caffeine/ oxalic acid possessed the highest value of yield pressure (166 MPa) and thus the lowest compressibility among other mixtures. Furthermore, the addition of microcrystalline cellulose and α-lactose monohydrate has affected the crystallinity as well as the tableting properties of the co-crystals. After the addition of excipients, the tensile strength of compacts was about 2 times higher than any other mixture. Finally, urea/ 2-MB and caffeine/ malonic acid co-crystals were successfully synthesized through convection mixing and compaction.

"Susceptibility of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixes to moisture induced damage is one of the main reasons for premature failures of asphalt pavements. Hence, the evaluation of mixes for the moisture susceptibility is an essential part of the mix design. The existing methods are found to be in-sufficient to characterize mixes in terms of their moisture damage potential, and many studies have been conducted to establish an improved methodology that can better address the issue. Most of these methods involve the determination of changes in mix properties due to moisture conditioning in the laboratory or to verify the mix performance in the field or the laboratory. In the field moisture susceptible mixes are also found to lose material to extents that are dependent upon the properties of the mix and materials. So far, there has been no comprehensive study to investigate the loss of materials due to moisture induced damage. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate a conditioning and a test method that can be used on a regular basis to detect moisture susceptible mixes and to understand the combined problem of moisture induced material loss and change in strength/stiffness of the mix. The Moisture Induced Stress Tester (MIST), Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV), Dynamic Modulus in Indirect tensile mode, and Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) tests were utilized in the study. The effluent from the MIST was checked for the gradation of dislodged aggregates and the Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) content. A system dynamics (SD) approach was also adopted to investigate the problem and establish a model to reproduce field observations. The results showed that the use of MIST in combination with UPV or ITS is able to identify moisture susceptible mixes, in particular for mixes with the potential of aggregate breakdown. The mixes with a higher loss of asphalt binder during conditioning exhibit higher tensile strengths, and those with a loss of finer materials, which is indicative of aggregate breakdown, show a lower tensile strength. For the mixes used in this study, the rate of change in indirect tensile strength during moisture conditioning was found to be strongly correlated to the pre-conditioning modulus of the mix. A step-by-step framework to characterize the moisture susceptible mixes was presented."