# Experimental Study on the Dielectric Model of Common Asphalt Pavement Surface Materials Based on the L-R Model

Authors: Yanhui Zhong; Yanlong Gao; Bei Zhang; Songtao Li; Hongchuan Cui; Xiaolong Li; Han Zhao
Journal: Advances in Civil Engineering
 (2021)

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## Abstract

The establishment of a dielectric model of the asphalt pavement surface material is the premise and key to applying the electromagnetic wave technology to asphalt pavement nondestructive testing. Asphalt pavement can be made of different materials, including various types of asphalt mixtures. Therefore, in order to study and analyze the dielectric properties of different types of asphalt mixtures and establish a dielectric model of the asphalt pavement surface material, this paper studies four types of asphalt mixtures commonly used in the asphalt pavement surface course. Based on the comparative analysis of three classical models, the complex refractive index method (CRIM), Brown, and Looyenga; based on the L-R model, the linear regression analysis was conducted on the test data. The dielectric models which are suitable for the interpretation of four types of asphalt mixtures were established, and the dielectric model database of asphalt pavement surface materials was extended, which provides theoretical and technical support for nondestructive testing of the asphalt pavement.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

The composite dielectric model of asphalt mixtures describes the relationships between the dielectric constant of an asphalt mixture and its components, as well as the volume ratio [1]. The asphalt mixture is a commonly used pavement material. An asphalt mixture can be regarded as a mixed multiphase medium composed of air, asphalt, aggregate, and other three-phase media [2]. The establishment of the composite dielectric model of asphalt mixtures is the premise and key for nondestructive testing of the asphalt mixture by applying electromagnetic wave technology [3].On the one hand, the dielectric properties of an asphalt mixture and the main factors that affect the dielectric properties of a mixed medium are analyzed in detail by using the dielectric models [4–11]. On the other hand, the volume ratio of each component of the asphalt mixture can be calculated using the measured dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture and further used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of density, porosity, and other parameters [12–17]. The establishment of a dielectric model of an asphalt mixture can provide the theoretical basis for nondestructive testing of the asphalt pavement [18, 19] and expand the application scope of electromagnetic testing technology significantly.Some early scholars studied the dielectric behavior of composite materials and proposed different classic models, such as the Rayleigh model, Maxwell Garnett model, Böttcher model, and Clausius–Mossotti model [20–23]. These models are established on different assumptions, so they have their own limitation and certain application range. Thus, the main objective of this study is to improve the L-R model by using linear regression method and create a dielectric model suitable for explaining four specific types of asphalt mixture.


## 2. Materials and Methods

In order to study the dielectric characteristics of the asphalt pavement surface materials, a dielectric model library of asphalt pavement surface materials was constructed. Two types of AC mixtures and two types of SMA mixtures were selected as research objects. As for AC mixtures, AC-13 and AC-16 were selected, and as for SMA mixtures, SMA-13 and SMA-16 were selected. The mineral aggregate grading of asphalt concrete mixtures is given in Table1. The dielectric characteristics of the four types of asphalt mixtures were experimentally studied.Table 1
Mineral aggregate grading of asphalt concrete mixtures (square sieve).
Sieve hole (mm)Sieving rate (%)AC-13AC-16SMA-13SMA-160.0751001001001000.1510095.010095.00.395.084.095.075.00.676.570.062.555.01.1853.048.027.026.02.3637.034.020.519.54.7526.524.519.018.09.519.017.516.015.013.213.512.513.012.51610.09.512.011.5196.06.010.010.0In this work, No. 70, No. 90, SBS-modified asphalt, and limestone were used to make the AC mixtures, and No. 70, SBS-modified asphalt, and basalt were used to make the SMA mixtures. The test materials are shown in Figure1, and the basic physics of the single-phase media was in accordance with the specification requirements. The parameters were measured, and the measurement results showed that the material could meet the usage requirements.Figure 1
Test asphalts. (a) 70# asphalt. (b) 90# asphalt. (c) SBS-modified asphalt.
(a)(b)(c)A network analyzer was used to measure the dielectric constant of the single-phase medium using a coaxial probe method, as shown in Figure2. The test frequency range of the single-phase dielectric material was 1.7 GHz–2.4 GHz.Figure 2
Single-phase material measurement process.
(a)(b)The four types of asphalt mixtures’ oil-stone ratios were 3.9%, 4.0%, 4.1%, 4.9%, 5.0%, 5.1%, 5.9%, 6.0%, and 6.1%. First, a rut plate test piece was made according to the specifications. Then, a cutting machine was used to cut the rut plate test piece. There were 18 test pieces for each AC mixture, which was a total of 36 AC test pieces, and 18 test pieces for each SMA mixture, so there were a total of 36 SMA mixture test pieces.The network analyzer was used to measure the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture test pieces using the waveguide method, as shown in Figure3. The asphalt mixture test frequency range was also 1.6 GHz–2.4 GHz.Figure 3
Dielectric constant measurement of the asphalt mixture test pieces.After the dielectric-characteristic test of the asphalt mixture specimens was completed, the apparent density of each specimen was measured, and the volume ratio of each specimen component was calculated.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Single-Phase Media

The coaxial probe method was used to measure the dielectric constant of the single-phase materials [8]. The measurement results are shown in Figure 4. Since the dielectric model in this paper does not consider the dielectric loss, only the real values of the dielectric constant are displayed in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, in the test frequency range, the dielectric constant of the single-phase medium was independent of the frequency. Therefore, the dielectric constant of the single-phase medium was the average value in the test frequency range, as shown in Table 2.Figure 4
Dielectric constant of the asphalt mixtures.Figure 5
The dielectric constant of the single-phase materials.Table 2
Average value of the dielectric constant of the single-phase materials.
70#90#SBSLimestone blockBasalt stones2.8122.9322.9636.4126.931


### 3.2. Asphalt Mixture

The waveguide method was adopted to measure the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture specimens [24]. However, the frequency affected the dielectric properties of the asphalt mixtures. Due to the limited space, a set of test results is given Figure 4. Within the test frequency range, the dielectric constant of asphalt mixtures decreased with the increase in the test frequency.Considering the limited space, this paper selects the 2.0 GHz test frequency as the representative and takes the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture under this test frequency as the research object. The test results are shown in Figure6. But the established model is also applicable to other test frequencies in the conclusions.Figure 6
Dielectric constant of the asphalt mixtures at the test frequency of 2.0 GHz.


## 3.1. Single-Phase Media

The coaxial probe method was used to measure the dielectric constant of the single-phase materials [8]. The measurement results are shown in Figure 4. Since the dielectric model in this paper does not consider the dielectric loss, only the real values of the dielectric constant are displayed in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, in the test frequency range, the dielectric constant of the single-phase medium was independent of the frequency. Therefore, the dielectric constant of the single-phase medium was the average value in the test frequency range, as shown in Table 2.Figure 4
Dielectric constant of the asphalt mixtures.Figure 5
The dielectric constant of the single-phase materials.Table 2
Average value of the dielectric constant of the single-phase materials.
70#90#SBSLimestone blockBasalt stones2.8122.9322.9636.4126.931


## 3.2. Asphalt Mixture

The waveguide method was adopted to measure the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture specimens [24]. However, the frequency affected the dielectric properties of the asphalt mixtures. Due to the limited space, a set of test results is given Figure 4. Within the test frequency range, the dielectric constant of asphalt mixtures decreased with the increase in the test frequency.Considering the limited space, this paper selects the 2.0 GHz test frequency as the representative and takes the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture under this test frequency as the research object. The test results are shown in Figure6. But the established model is also applicable to other test frequencies in the conclusions.Figure 6
Dielectric constant of the asphalt mixtures at the test frequency of 2.0 GHz.


## 4. L-R Model

L-R model was proposed by Lichtenecker and Rother [25]. The relationship between the dielectric properties of a mixed multiphase medium and the dielectric properties of a single-phase media can be described by the L-R model, and it is given by(1)εeffα=∑i=1nfiεiα,where the parameter denotes the fitting parameter of the relationship between the dielectric geometry and the dielectric constant, the value of α is in the range of (–1, 1), εeff denotes the dielectric constant of the medium, εi is the dielectric constant of a phase i of the medium, and fi is the volume ratio of a phase i of the medium. The L-R model has been proven by theoretical analysis to be applicable to the interpretation of dielectric properties of a multiphase medium [21, 26–29] and has been expanded and applied in the field [30, 31]. At α=1, α=1/2, and α=1/3, the L-R model becomes the Brown [32], CRIM [33, 34], or Looyenga model [35], respectively. The expressions of the Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga models are, respectively, given by(2)εeff=∑i=1nfiεi,εeff=∑i=1nfiεi,εeff1/3=∑i=1nfiεi1/3.In the above model, the meaning of each symbol is the same as in equation (1).These models are widely used in soil physics, geophysics, oil logging, and other fields [30, 36–39]. However, these models experience some limitations in the application process [21, 22], especially in the description of dielectric properties of an asphalt mixture [14, 40–42].The above three models are commonly used for the theoretical calculation of dielectric parameters of an asphalt mixture. Dielectric parameters of three single-phase materials are given in Table2; the porosity of the asphalt mixture is set as 4%, and the oil-stone ratio of the asphalt mixture is between 3% and 8%.The dielectric constants of the asphalt mixture were theoretically calculated using the Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga dielectric models, and the obtained results are shown in Figure7.Figure 7
Theoretical calculation result.Figure7 shows that the results of the three models are different. The calculation result of the Brown model is the largest, while that of the Looyenga model is the smallest. All the three results decrease with the increase in the oil-stone ratio. The oil-stone ratio has an important effect on the dielectric properties of an asphalt mixture. The difference between the three results gradually increases with the increase in the oil-stone ratio. Therefore, it is needed to verify whether the three classic dielectric models can explain the dielectric properties of different types of asphalt mixtures.


## 5. Discussion

This paper studies four types of asphalt mixtures, including two types of asphalt concrete mixtures (ACs) and two types of asphalt mastic macadam mixtures (SMAs). By using the L-R model, on the basis of the research and analysis of the applicability of three classic dielectric models, the test data are linearly returned. Based on the regression analysis, a dielectric model is established to explain the dielectric properties of four types of asphalt mixtures, forming the dielectric model database of asphalt pavement surface materials, which provides data support for the establishment of the dielectric model database of the pavement material and important theoretical support for the inversion of the asphalt mixture multiphase volume fraction.


### 5.1. Applicability Analysis of the Classical Dielectric Model

Three classic dielectric models, namely, Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga, were used to analyze the test results, and the calculated values were compared with the test values. The error was calculated by(3)η=E−AE/100,θ=∑i=1nηin,where η denoted the calculation error, A denoted the theoretical value, E denoted the actual measured value, and θ denoted the average error.The obtained analysis results are shown in Figures8–10.Figure 8
Applicability analysis of the Brown model.Figure 9
Applicability analysis of the CRIM model.Figure 10
Applicability analysis of the Looyenga model.The aggregate had a higher dielectric constant and the largest volume ratio. Therefore, the aggregate had the largest influence on the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture, and the aggregate particle size was large. For the CRIM model, the model particle size was smaller than that the wavelength could meet. The Brown and Looyenga models have been often used to explain the dielectric properties of two-phase media, such as soil. Therefore, under the current value ofc, the dielectric constant error of the asphalt mixture calculated using the three classic dielectric models was large, so these three dielectric models were not applicable. Thus, in order to explain the dielectric characteristics of the abovementioned asphalt mixtures, it is necessary to establish dielectric models for different types of asphalt mixtures, namely, different dielectric models should be used to explain the dielectric characteristics of different types of asphalt mixtures.


### 5.2. Establishment and Verification of the Dielectric Model of the Common Asphalt Mixture

The applicability of a dielectric model is the key to the nondestructive testing of an asphalt mixture using the ground-penetrating radar. The above results show that three classic dielectric models are not suitable for explaining the dielectric characteristics of an asphalt mixture. Therefore, based on the L-R formula, using the binary linear regression analysis method, the dielectric properties’ test results of different types of asphalt mixture are analyzed, and theC value of different types of asphalt mixture corresponding to the L-R equation is obtained. The binary linear regression analysis is carried out on the L-R model under each C value, and the F test is carried out on the regression analysis results to check whether the binary linear regression results are correct. The square sum of error e2=∑εm−εx¯2 between the theoretical value and the experimental value of the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture under the current model is calculated. The analysis results of AC-13, AC-16, SMA-13, and SMA-16 are shown in Table 3.Table 3
Linear regression statistical data of four asphalt concrete types.
AC-13AC-16SMA-13SMA-16cFe2cFe2cFe2CFe2−125.602.95−126.461.57−115.0914.01−115.229.91−0.927.221.440.931.160.53−0.915.1210.86−0.915.297.30−0.833.070.500.895.870.05−0.815.168.22−0.815.415.18−0.798.910.06−0.776.960.07−0.715.226.05−0.715.593.50−0.6110.430.05−0.630.880.51−0.615.304.30−0.615.912.21−0.534.170.41−0.526.591.30−0.515.442.92−0.516.541.26−0.427.731.06−0.425.362.39−0.415.661.87−0.418.030.62−0.325.931.96−0.324.843.70−0.316.081.10−0.322.900.23−0.225.193.05−0.224.585.18−0.217.010.57−0.248.070.05−0.124.814.28−0.124.426.80−0.119.510.24−0.144.470.060.124.457.030.124.2510.250.128.830.070.118.070.480.224.358.480.224.2112.020.210.180.170.216.630.840.324.289.940.324.1713.800.317.230.360.316.011.280.424.2311.420.424.1415.570.416.170.630.415.681.780.524.2012.880.524.1217.310.515.700.960.515.492.320.624.1714.310.624.1119.000.615.461.330.615.362.900.724.1415.720.724.0920.660.715.321.740.715.283.490.824.1317.090.824.0822.260.815.222.170.815.224.090.924.1118.420.924.0723.800.915.162.620.915.184.71124.1019.70124.0725.29115.123.08115.155.32Based on the above analysis results, thec value corresponding to the minimum square sum of the error between the theoretical value calculated by the dielectric model and the experimental value of the dielectric properties of the asphalt mixture is the best dielectric model of this kind of asphalt mixture, and they are given by(4)εac−13−0.6=fgεg−0.6+flεl−0.6+faεa−0.6,εac−16−0.8=fgεg−0.8+flεl−0.8+faεa−0.8,εsma−130.1=fgεg0.1+flεl0.1+faεa0.1,εsma−16−0.2=fgεg−0.2+flεl−0.2+faεa−0.2.Figure11 shows the average error of the four classical models and the established models. As can be seen from the figure, the new model has the highest accuracy. The established models were used to verify the test results. The calculation results are shown in Figure 12. The results show that the overall calculation accuracy is within 3%, which meets the usage requirements.Figure 11
Average error of the classical model and the proposed models.Figure 12
The results of the established models.In this work, the dielectric properties of the common asphalt mixture for the asphalt pavement surface were studied. The Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga dielectric models were used to explain the dielectric properties of the four types of asphalt mixtures. The comprehensive test and calculation results show that Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga dielectric models are not suitable to explain the dielectric properties of the four types of asphalt mixtures.


## 5.1. Applicability Analysis of the Classical Dielectric Model

Three classic dielectric models, namely, Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga, were used to analyze the test results, and the calculated values were compared with the test values. The error was calculated by(3)η=E−AE/100,θ=∑i=1nηin,where η denoted the calculation error, A denoted the theoretical value, E denoted the actual measured value, and θ denoted the average error.The obtained analysis results are shown in Figures8–10.Figure 8
Applicability analysis of the Brown model.Figure 9
Applicability analysis of the CRIM model.Figure 10
Applicability analysis of the Looyenga model.The aggregate had a higher dielectric constant and the largest volume ratio. Therefore, the aggregate had the largest influence on the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture, and the aggregate particle size was large. For the CRIM model, the model particle size was smaller than that the wavelength could meet. The Brown and Looyenga models have been often used to explain the dielectric properties of two-phase media, such as soil. Therefore, under the current value ofc, the dielectric constant error of the asphalt mixture calculated using the three classic dielectric models was large, so these three dielectric models were not applicable. Thus, in order to explain the dielectric characteristics of the abovementioned asphalt mixtures, it is necessary to establish dielectric models for different types of asphalt mixtures, namely, different dielectric models should be used to explain the dielectric characteristics of different types of asphalt mixtures.


## 5.2. Establishment and Verification of the Dielectric Model of the Common Asphalt Mixture

The applicability of a dielectric model is the key to the nondestructive testing of an asphalt mixture using the ground-penetrating radar. The above results show that three classic dielectric models are not suitable for explaining the dielectric characteristics of an asphalt mixture. Therefore, based on the L-R formula, using the binary linear regression analysis method, the dielectric properties’ test results of different types of asphalt mixture are analyzed, and theC value of different types of asphalt mixture corresponding to the L-R equation is obtained. The binary linear regression analysis is carried out on the L-R model under each C value, and the F test is carried out on the regression analysis results to check whether the binary linear regression results are correct. The square sum of error e2=∑εm−εx¯2 between the theoretical value and the experimental value of the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture under the current model is calculated. The analysis results of AC-13, AC-16, SMA-13, and SMA-16 are shown in Table 3.Table 3
Linear regression statistical data of four asphalt concrete types.
AC-13AC-16SMA-13SMA-16cFe2cFe2cFe2CFe2−125.602.95−126.461.57−115.0914.01−115.229.91−0.927.221.440.931.160.53−0.915.1210.86−0.915.297.30−0.833.070.500.895.870.05−0.815.168.22−0.815.415.18−0.798.910.06−0.776.960.07−0.715.226.05−0.715.593.50−0.6110.430.05−0.630.880.51−0.615.304.30−0.615.912.21−0.534.170.41−0.526.591.30−0.515.442.92−0.516.541.26−0.427.731.06−0.425.362.39−0.415.661.87−0.418.030.62−0.325.931.96−0.324.843.70−0.316.081.10−0.322.900.23−0.225.193.05−0.224.585.18−0.217.010.57−0.248.070.05−0.124.814.28−0.124.426.80−0.119.510.24−0.144.470.060.124.457.030.124.2510.250.128.830.070.118.070.480.224.358.480.224.2112.020.210.180.170.216.630.840.324.289.940.324.1713.800.317.230.360.316.011.280.424.2311.420.424.1415.570.416.170.630.415.681.780.524.2012.880.524.1217.310.515.700.960.515.492.320.624.1714.310.624.1119.000.615.461.330.615.362.900.724.1415.720.724.0920.660.715.321.740.715.283.490.824.1317.090.824.0822.260.815.222.170.815.224.090.924.1118.420.924.0723.800.915.162.620.915.184.71124.1019.70124.0725.29115.123.08115.155.32Based on the above analysis results, thec value corresponding to the minimum square sum of the error between the theoretical value calculated by the dielectric model and the experimental value of the dielectric properties of the asphalt mixture is the best dielectric model of this kind of asphalt mixture, and they are given by(4)εac−13−0.6=fgεg−0.6+flεl−0.6+faεa−0.6,εac−16−0.8=fgεg−0.8+flεl−0.8+faεa−0.8,εsma−130.1=fgεg0.1+flεl0.1+faεa0.1,εsma−16−0.2=fgεg−0.2+flεl−0.2+faεa−0.2.Figure11 shows the average error of the four classical models and the established models. As can be seen from the figure, the new model has the highest accuracy. The established models were used to verify the test results. The calculation results are shown in Figure 12. The results show that the overall calculation accuracy is within 3%, which meets the usage requirements.Figure 11
Average error of the classical model and the proposed models.Figure 12
The results of the established models.In this work, the dielectric properties of the common asphalt mixture for the asphalt pavement surface were studied. The Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga dielectric models were used to explain the dielectric properties of the four types of asphalt mixtures. The comprehensive test and calculation results show that Brown, CRIM, and Looyenga dielectric models are not suitable to explain the dielectric properties of the four types of asphalt mixtures.


## 6. Conclusions

In this study, based on the linear regression analysis of the L-R equation and test data, the author establishes four dielectric models of asphalt mixtures. Based on the results of this study, the following conclusions can be drawn:(1)
Compared with the calculation results of the classic L-R model, it is obvious that the four models established have higher calculation accuracy and are more in line with the actual measurement results(2)
According to the established dielectric model, the error in the result of calculating the volume ratio of each component by measuring the dielectric constant of the asphalt mixture can be made smaller(3)
The established model has been verified to be suitable for explaining the dielectric properties of asphalt mixtures, enriching the dielectric model database of asphalt pavement surface materials(4)
The constructed four dielectric models of asphalt mixtures can guide the nondestructive testing of the asphalt pavement surface and provide support for the nondestructive testing and maintenance of the asphalt pavement(5)
Based on the examination of the rationality of the existing classic dielectric models to explain the dielectric properties of asphalt mixtures, this paper establishes four dielectric models for commonly used asphalt mixtures, which provides data for the establishment of a pavement material dielectric model library stand by.



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