Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System with Zero Intervention (AMAZE)
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2024-03-01
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Edition:September 2021–August 2023
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Abstract:The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is currently facing many challenges. Three such challenges in the areas of asphalt pavements and laboratory testing involve (a) cracking and rutting distresses, (b) hiring and retaining employees, and (c) laboratory safety. TxDOT has been addressing the cracking and rutting problems by implementing a balanced mix design method to design durable mixes. However, the lack of workforce and workforce skills hinders such efforts. The primary safety concern in the laboratory is preventing worker injury often associated with the hot asphalt, large masonry saws, high-force testing machines, and toxic chemicals typically found in an asphalt material testing lab. The goal of this project was to employ automation with a robotic arm to alleviate some of these challenges. This project developed the Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System with Zero Intervention (AMAZE). AMAZE is able to automatically perform four asphalt mixture tests: (a) bulk specific gravity test, (b) ideal cracking test, (c) ideal rutting test, and (d) indirect tensile strength test. AMAZE has very similar test results as those performed by experienced laboratory technicians. Furthermore, AMAZE with a robotic arm has much better repeatability or consistency than that of laboratory technicians. Deployment of AMAZE makes it possible to measure engineering properties of asphalt mixtures during plant production. Consequently, asphalt mixtures with poor engineering properties can be screened out, resulting in higher-quality and longer-lasting pavements in the field. Additionally, AMAZE test results are objective and without human error, thus allowing it to be used as a reference device. In this way, any potential test result disputes between contractors and TxDOT can be minimized.
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