Pavement layers are constructed using a combination of materials, of which rock aggregates constitute a larger proportion. Current understanding is that the performance of pavements is dependent on the aggregate shape properties which include form, angularity and surface texture.
However, direct and accurate measurements of aggregate shape properties remain a challenge.
The current standard test methods used to evaluate aggregate shape properties cannot measure these properties accurately. Among the reasons contributing to the difficulties in the determination of aggregate shape properties is irregular shapes of aggregate particles. Therefore, current research efforts focus on developing accurate, reliable and innovative techniques for evaluation of aggregate shape properties.
The work presented in this dissertation contributes to the current innovative research at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa, to automate the
measurement of aggregate shape properties. The CSIR’s present research is aimed at improving pavement performance through better materials characterisation, using laser scanning and advanced modelling techniques. The objective of this study was to investigate improved techniques for the determination of aggregate shape properties using analytical and laser scanning techniques. A three-dimensional (3-D) laser scanning device was used for scanning six types of aggregate
samples commonly used for construction of pavements in South Africa. The laser scan data
were processed to reconstruct 3-D models of the aggregate particles. The models were further
analysed to determine the shape properties of the aggregates. Two analysis approaches were
used in this study. The first approach used the aggregate’s physical properties (surface area,
volume and orthogonal dimensions) measured by using laser scanning technique to compute
three different indices to describe the form of aggregates. The computed indices were the
sphericity computed by using surface area and volume of an aggregate particle, the sphericity
computed by using orthogonal dimensions of an aggregate particle, and the flat and elongated
ratio computed by using longest and smallest dimensions of an aggregate particle. The second
approach employed a spherical harmonic analysis technique to analyse the aggregate laser scan
data to determine aggregate form, angularity and surface texture indices. A MATLABTM code
was developed for analysis of laser scan data, using the spherical harmonic analysis technique.
The analyses contained in this dissertation indicate that the laser-based aggregate shape indices
were able to describe the shape properties of the aggregates studied. Furthermore, good
correlations were observed between the spherical harmonic form indices and the form indices
determined by using the aggregate’s physical properties. This shows that aggregate laser
scanning is a versatile technique for the determination of various indices to describe aggregate
shape properties.
Further validation of the laser-based technique was achieved by correlating the laser-based
aggregate form indices with the results from two current standard tests; the flakiness index and
the flat and elongated particles ratio tests. The laser-based form indices correlated linearly with
both, the flakiness index and the flat and elongated particles ratio test results. The observed
correlations provide an indication of the validity of laser-based aggregate shape indices. It is
concluded that the laser based scanning technique could be employed for direct and accurate
determination of aggregate shape properties. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2013 / Civil Engineering / Unrestricted
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:up/oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/32799 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Komba, J.J. (Julius Joseph) |
| Contributors | Steyn, Wynand J.vdM., julijoseph84@yahoo.com, Anochie-Boateng, J.K. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Rights | © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
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