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Aggregate Imaging
Measurement System (AIMS)
Pine Instrument
Project Team Texas A&M
Texas DOT

Award $200,000

A video-clip is available.

Conceptualized d rendering
of the final AIMS
MS system

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 measure-
ment of aggregate shape properties.

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AIMS Characterizes Aggregate Shape Properties for

Pavement Materials

Angularity
ASTM D-5821 & C-1252
Form
ASTM D-4791

Texture
No comparable
standardized test
currently available

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Existing Technique
Under ASTM D5821,
aggregates are examined
manually and fractured
Prototype AIMS System
faces are counted on
each particle. New Technique
Captures and analyzes images of multiple
particles and characterizes the material
sample. A graphical output is provided.

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Angularity Output Graph Illustrates the Percent of

Particles for Each Aggregate Sample

Sub- Sub- Angular

Rounded Rounded Angular

100

90

80

70 RAP-1/2

60
RAP-3/8
50
78M-3/8
40
Aggregate CAA

30 #78M 100/100 RAP-#4

20 RAP 100/100 78M-#4

10 Screening 100/100 Screen-#4

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

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The AIMS system ranks the texture for coarse aggregates

ranging from polished surfaces to high roughness.

Moderate Low
High Roughness Smooth Polished
Roughness Roughness
> 750 550-750 350-550 200–350 < 200

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