The Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System with Zero Intervention, developed by Dr. Fujie Zhou at Texas A&M University and manufactured by Humboldt, marks a significant advancement in asphalt mixture testing in the U.S. This innovative system is designed to automate Balanced Mix Design (BMD). BMD is an approach that utilizes performance tests on conditioned specimens to predict how well the asphalt concrete mixture will perform considering factors like aging, traffic, and climate conditions.
A key feature of this Automated Testing System, is its inclusion of the IDEAL CT and IDEAL RT tests, both developed by Dr. Fujie Zhou. IDEAL CT is the leading BMD cracking test, and IDEAL RT offers a quicker alternative to the Hamburg wheel tracking test, which is traditionally used to assess the rutting susceptibility of asphalt mixture. The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) has demonstrated that IDEAL RT correlates with the creep curve of the Hamburg test.
This innovative system makes it possible for asphalt industry professionals to evaluate asphalt mix cracking and rutting resistances as part of the daily quality control/quality acceptance (QC/QA) testing during mix production. This testing ensures the consistency and performance quality of the mix by identifying and eliminating cracking- or rutting-prone mixes from being placed on roads.
Intervention, is a groundbreaking tool for asphalt mixture testing, meeting the industry's current needs for BMD testing, and offering a solution to the labor shortage and human error by automating the whole test process. This is where the automation of these test processes in this testing system is vital. By automating the testing process, it reduces the potential for human error. Humboldt will soon begin the production of the Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System.
System Includes:
• Rapid cooling subsystem
• Air void measurement subsystem
• Temperature conditioning subsystem
• Material testing subsystem,
• Robot arm
Objective:
• Accuracy/consistency: Remove human errors
• Safety: Keep people safe
• Productivity: Increase productivity
Develop The Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System with Zero Intervention to measure four essential Asphalt Mixture Properties:
• Bulk specific gravity (air voids)
• Cracking resistance (IDEAL-CT)
• Rutting resistance (IDEAL-RT)
• Indirect tensile strength (IDT)
The Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System with Zero Intervention MODULES:
• Robot arm
• Computer control center
• Specimen feeding unit
• Air voids measurement unit
• Specimen storage unit
• Two conditioning chambers
• Specimen rapid dry unit
• Loading frame with trashing unit
• Power supplying unit
• System position unit
• Patent Pending Robot Testing System
• The Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System with Zero Intervention is licensed to Humboldt Manufacturing by The Texas A&M University System