An energy-based geometric aggregate packing parameter for asphalt concrete mixtures

Based upon the energy dissipation characteristics of asphalt concrete mixtures, a non-destructive testing parameter is presented which evaluates the relative efficiency of energy dissipation in the early and late times of a transient impulse response. This non-destructive testing parameter is derived using principles of statistical energy analyses, diffuse sound fields, and an analogy to solid media of the Schroeder's fields of reverberant enclosures. It was observed that none of the commonly used single aggregate parameters correlates well with this energy-based non-destructive testing parameter, which may help explain why typically used single aggregate parameters in general may not suffice in the evaluation/ characterisation of many energy-related intrinsic material processes. Corresponding to the proposed energy-based parameter, new geometric aggregate packing parameters are also proposed, including one that is a modification of the Abram's fineness modulus.