PowerPoint Presentation - Aggregate Imaging Measurement System (AIMS)
Slide 1 – Aggregate Imaging Measurement System (AIMS)
Project Team: Pine Instrument, Texas A&M, and Texas DOT
Award: $200,000
![Conceptualized rendering of the final AIMS system](images/aims.jpg)
Conceptualized rendering of the final AIMS system
A video-clip is available (.wmv, 14.5 mb)
Slide 2 – Need
- Aggregate shape properties have been shown to be related to the structural integrity and performance of pavement systems.
- Existing tests for aggregate shape properties are time-consuming and subjective.
Anticipated advantages over conventional practice
- Enhanced information on the aggregate material shape properties will help improve pavement performance and augment predictive models.
- AIMS provides objective, repeatable, and rapid measurement of aggregate shape properties.
Slide 3 – AIMS Characterizes Aggregate Shape Properties for Pavement Materials
![Illustration of three shaped properties of a aggregate particle; form, angularity, and texture. There is an existing standardized test from ASTM for form and angularity. There no comparable standardized test currently available for texture.](images/shape.jpg)
Slide 4 – Existing Technique
![Aggregate sample](images/aggregate_opt.jpg)
Under ASTM D5821, aggregates are examined manually and fractured faces are counted on each particle
New Technique
![AIMS prototype system](images/System_photo_2_opt.jpg)
Prototype AIMS System
Captures and analyzes images of multiple particles and characterizes the material sample. A graphical output is provided.
Slide 5 – Angularity Output Graph Illustrates the Percent of Particles for Each Aggregate Sample
![The graph represents the AIMS angularity index distribution for six aggregate samples. The graph illustrates the percent of particles for each aggregate sample which fall into rounded, sub rounded, sub-angular, and angular categories.](images/angularity.jpg)
Slide 6 – The AIMS system ranks the texture for coarse aggregates ranging from polished surfaces to high roughness.
![The picture shows the five categories of AIMS texture which are high roughness, moderate roughness, low roughness, smooth and polished.](images/texture.jpg)