Research on void characteristics during compaction of asphalt mixtures

Void is an important manifestation of the strength of asphalt mixture, but few studies have focused on the change of voids during the compaction of asphalt mixtures. The voids of SMA-13 and OGFC-13 were selected as the research objects, and the compaction process of the asphalt mixture was analyzed based on different compaction degree specimens in lab through gyratory compactor. Firstly, CT scanning was used to extract the void structure of the asphalt mixture at different degrees. Secondly, based on the 26-connectivity algorithm, the connected voids and closed voids of asphalt mixture were extracted, and the volume and particle size distribution were analyzed. Thirdly, the gradation of voids was analyzed by the two-parameter Weibull function, and the morphological characteristics of voids were analyzed by roundness, sphericity, and abundance. The results showed that the distribution of cross-section voids ratio and the number of voids of the SMA-13 was more uniform than that of OGFC-13. The characteristic parameters of two-parameter Weibull function showed that with the increase of specimen density, the three-dimensional void size became smaller and smaller, and the void size distribution became more and more uniform. The sphericity and roundness of the voids of SMA-13 and OGFC-13 were less affected by the compaction degree, and the void abundance of the OGFC-13 gradation asphalt mixture was greatly affected. For the connectivity of voids, the closed void volume of OGFC-13 increased with the increase of compaction degree, but the maximum proportion of closed voids in the total void volume does not exceed 10% during the compaction process. For the gradation SMA-13, the compaction degree of 90%∼93% was the boundary interval of connected voids from existence to nonexistence, which may be a critical interval for forming skeleton strength during the compaction process. •The asphalt mixture compaction process was decomposed based on gyratory compactor.•The CT scanning method in asphalt mixture compaction was proposed.•The meso-structure of voids in asphalt mixture during compaction was characterized.