This study aims to develop the micro-analysis of the bituminous mixtures using Cellular Phone Images (CPI) and Image Processing Techniques (IPT). A new methodology and scheme was developed for faster and accurate procedure to compute volumetric design parameters; Voids in Mineral Aggregate (VMA), Voids in Total Mix (VTM) and Voids Filled with Asphalt (VFA) using CPI and IPT instead of the conventional methods. Five types of cellular phones with different high resolutions were used to analyze the horizontal cross section (face) of HMA slices. A cellular phone digital mapping frame for Micro-structure of the bituminous mixture for data collection was designed and implemented. New models for computations of volumetric design perimeters (VMA, VTM and VFA) were developed. Results showed that the best cellular phone for micro-analysis of the bituminous mixture is type D, even though it doesn't have the highest resolution, and the best height of capturing the images is 35 cm.

The performance of asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures depends highly on their internal structure and the interaction of the mixture components under different loading conditions. Imaging techniques provide effective tools that can assess the microstructure and failure mechanisms of materials. Imaging techniques have been used in recent research studies to examine and analyze the evolution of the internal structure of AC mixtures resulting from traffic and environmental loading. Increasing knowledge of the microstructural properties and mechanical behaviour of AC mixtures could improve the design process and enable researchers to develop more accurate prediction models for the long-term performance of pavements. This paper reviews three imaging techniques which were used to characterize the microstructure of AC mixtures. These three imaging techniques are digital camera imaging, scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, and X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan. Extensive insight has been presented into these imaging techniques, including their principles, methods, sample preparation, and associated instruments. This review provides guidelines for future research on using these imaging techniques to analyze the microstructure of AC mixtures and assess their long-term performance.

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