| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Bekele, Abiy, 1983-
(författare)
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Application of Automated Non-contact Resonance Testing for Low Temperature Behavior of Asphalt Concrete
- 2019
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Impact resonance testing is a well-documented non-destructive testing method and its applications on asphalt concrete have also been implemented successfully. The test is carried out manually by inducing an impact in order to excite the test specimen and taking measurements of the vibrational response. In an effort to improve the manual procedure of impact resonance testing, an automated non-contact methodology is developed and its applicability with regards to low temperature behaviors of asphalt concrete is investigated. Results from this work show that repeatable fundamental resonance frequency measurements can be performed on a disc shaped specimen in an automated manner without the need to open the thermal chamber. The measurements obtained from the new method have been verified by taking similar resonance frequency measurements using an instrumented impact hammer. It has also been shown in this work that the proposed method is suitable to investigate the lone effects of cyclic thermal conditioning on asphalt concrete without any other possible biasing effects associated with contact in the conventional testing. A hysteretic behavior of stiffness modulus is obtained on three different asphalt concrete specimens subjected to repeated low temperature cyclic conditioning. Reduced modulus values at each temperature are obtained in all the tested specimens after a low temperature stepwise conditioning at temperatures from 0oC to -40 oC. This observed behavior shows that the dynamic modulus of the tested specimens is affected by low temperature conditioning. The norm of the complex modulus decreases and the phase angle or damping ratio increases after low temperature conditioning. Hence, valuable and practical low temperature characteristics of different asphalt concrete mixtures can possibly be obtained by using the proposed methodology.
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| 3. |
- Bekele, Abiy, et al.
(författare)
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Application of Energy-Based Crack Initiation Approach to Low-Temperature Damage and Recovery Based on Noncontact Resonance Testing
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of materials in civil engineering. - : American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). - 0899-1561 .- 1943-5533. ; 32:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Low temperature has a tendency to cause microdamage in asphalt concrete because of the relative thermal contraction of mastic and subsequent accumulation of thermal stresses. This paper presents the applicability of an energy-based micromechanical approach for assessing low-temperature damage and recovery in asphalt concrete based on a newly developed noncontact resonance testing. The principle of local energy balance and redistribution was applied to estimate average thermal microcrack length by considering local thermal strain energy release zones and surface energy of cracks initiated at preexisting air voids. A damage probing test was carried out by thermal loading and unloading of five different asphalt concrete specimens. The test was carried out by using a recently developed noncontact resonance method. The stiffness modulus was determined from the resonance test and utilized in the energy balance and redistribution formulation. Coefficients of thermal contraction of the specimens were also determined based on the noncontact resonance test and by applying the principle of the impact-echo method and calculating changes in thickness of the test specimens.
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| 4. |
- Bekele, Abiy, 1983-
(författare)
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Automated Non-contact Resonance Excitation Method for Low Temperature Behavior of Asphalt Concrete
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This paper studies the applicability of an automated non-destructivetesting method to monitor the stiffness of asphalt concrete at lowtemperatures. A loudspeaker is used as a source of non-contact excitation ofthe axially symmetric fundamental resonance frequencies of a disc-shapedasphalt concrete specimen positioned inside an environmental chamber. Measuredresonance frequencies are used to calculate the dynamic moduli of the specimenat different temperatures. The repeatability of the method as well as theeffect of loudspeaker height above the sample are studied. Results show thatthe main advantage of the non-contact excitation method, compared to manuallyapplied impact hammer excitation, is that repeatable automated measurements canbe performed while the specimen is placed inside an environmental temperaturechamber. This methodology enables to study the effect of only low temperatureconditioning on the dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete without interferencefrom mechanical loading.
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| 5. |
- Bekele, Abiy, et al.
(författare)
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Automated Non‑contact Resonance Excitation Method to Assess Low Temperature Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Concrete
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of nondestructive evaluation. - : Springer Nature. - 0195-9298 .- 1573-4862. ; 38:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper studies the applicability of an automated non-destructive testing method to monitor the stiffness of asphalt concrete at low temperatures. A loudspeaker is used as a source of non-contact excitation of the axially symmetric fundamental resonant frequencies of a disc-shaped asphalt concrete specimen positioned inside an environmental chamber. Measured resonant frequencies are used to calculate the dynamic moduli of the specimen at different temperatures. The repeatability of the method as well as the effect of loudspeaker height above the sample are studied. Results show that the main advantage of the non-contact excitation method, compared to manually applied impact hammer excitation, is that repeatable automated measurements can be performed while the specimen is placed inside an environmental temperature chamber. This methodology enables to study the effect of only low temperature conditioning on the dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete without interference from mechanical loading.
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| 6. |
- Bekele, Abiy, 1983-
(författare)
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Effect of Cyclic low temperature conditioning on Stiffness Modulus of Asphalt Concrete based on Non-contact Resonance testing method
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The stiffness modulus behaviors of three different asphalt concrete specimens that are subjected to cyclic cooling and heating are monitored. In an attempt to identify the sole effect of temperature cycles and to avoid any other biasing effects such as thermal contamination that can possibly corrupt measurements, resonance frequency measurements of the specimens are taken using an automated non-contact resonance method. The resonance frequency measurements are based on the fundamental axially symmetric mode of vibration. A hysteretic effect is observed on the measured resonance frequencies of the specimens with an application of cyclic cooling and heating. Lower stiffness moduli are obtained during the heating phase of a complete cooling and heating cycle. The stiffness moduli are calculated from measured resonance frequencies of the specimens in order to show their relative reductions due to the hysteretic effect. This finding is particularly important since it enables us to observe and understand the effect of the thermal history of asphalt concrete with regards to the reversibility behavior of its stiffness modulus. The damping of the specimens is also calculated from the measured resonance frequencies at the temperatures within the applied cyclic cooling and heating. Their observed behavior is also discussed with respect to a presence of potential micro damage.
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| 7. |
- Bekele, Abiy, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of cyclic low temperature conditioning on stiffness modulus ofasphalt concrete based on non-contact resonance testing method
- 2019
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Ingår i: Construction and Building Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 0950-0618 .- 1879-0526. ; 225, s. 502-509
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The stiffness modulus behaviors of three different asphalt concrete specimens that are subjected to cyclic cooling and heating are monitored. In an attempt to identify the sole effect of temperature cycles and to avoid any other biasing effects such as thermal contamination that can possibly corrupt measurements, resonance frequency measurements of the specimens are taken using an automated non-contact resonance method. The resonance frequency measurements are based on the fundamental axially symmetric mode of vibration. A hysteretic effect is observed on the measured resonance frequencies of the specimens with an application of cyclic cooling and heating. Lower stiffness moduli are obtained during the heating phase of a complete cooling and heating cycle. The stiffness moduli are calculated from measured resonance frequencies of the specimens in order to show their relative reductions due to the hysteretic effect. This finding is particularly important since it enables us to observe and understand the effect of the thermal history of asphalt concrete with regards to the reversibility behavior of its stiffness modulus. The damping of the specimens is also calculated from the measured resonance frequencies at the temperatures within the applied cyclic cooling and heating. Their observed behavior is also discussed with respect to a presence of potential micro damage.
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| 8. |
- Bekele, Abiy
(författare)
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Evaluation of Low Temperature Damage in Asphalt Mixtures with Non-Contact Resonance Testing
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Thetemperature induceddamage in asphalt mixtureshas always been a major distress that requires a substantialconsiderationin the asphalt industry. One of the most important aspects of studying temperature induceddamage is developing a practical test method for evaluation of the material’s resistanceto it. Hence, there is a growing interest in developing testing methodologieswhich are more efficient, less expensive and simpler to perform than the conventional test methods. Impact resonance testing is a well-documented non-destructive testing method,and ithas been successfully appliedon asphalt mixturesto measure their elastic and viscoelastic properties. This research aims at extending the impact resonance testing methodology to characterization of temperature induced damage in asphalt mixtures and to investigate experimentally and numerically damage induced in asphalt mixtures due to thermomechanical mismatch between the masticand aggregate phases.In order to improve temperature control and thus accuracy of the resonance testing, an automated non-contact test procedure is developedwith a loudspeakerutilized as a source of excitation.The developed methodology has been evaluatedfor a range of asphalt concrete materialsand temperatures. The measurementsobtained from the new method have been verified by taking similar resonance frequency measurements usinganinstrumented impact hammer. Results from this work show that repeatable fundamental resonance frequency measurements can be performed onadisc shaped specimen in an automated manner without the need to open thethermal chamberthat is used to condition test specimens.Investigationsofmicro-damage in asphalt concrete due to differential thermal contraction during cooling cycles havebeen carried out experimentally by using the developedautomated non-contact resonance testingcombined withcyclic cooling. The results of the experimental work haveshown the initiation of low temperature micro-damage and a hysteretic behavior of stiffness modulus during thethermal cycles. Energy based micro-mechanical model is also utilized in order to characterize themicro-crackinitiation and growthin asphalt concrete due to cyclic low temperature variations.Results of this approach have indicated the initiation of micro-cracksat low temperatures as well as the decrease in their length with increase in temperature. In order to obtain a quantitative insight into the temperature induced damage formation, a micromechanical finite element model (FEM) of asphalt mixtureunder thermal loading is developed. The model is used to investigate the damage evolution during the thermal cycles as well as its effect on material’s stiffness. Four cases ofmastic-aggregate combinations aremodelledin order to investigate effects of aggregate gradation as well as of masticpropertieson the thermal damage evolution. Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) isused to define aggregate-masticinterface so that an initiation of micro-damage due to differential thermal contraction can be probedin terms of its effect on the overall stiffness modulus. It is observed numerically that during the thermal cycles, thermal damage is initiated at the aggregate-mastic interface due to the differential contraction of mastic. It is also shown that the modelling observations are in qualitative agreement with the experimental findings from the resonance testing. Accordingly, the proposed modelling approach is a viable tool for evaluation of theeffect of asphalt mixture design on its resistance to thermally induced damage.
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| 9. |
- Bekele, Abiy, et al.
(författare)
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Micro-mechanical modelling of low temperature-induced micro-damage initiation in asphalt concrete based on cohesive zone model
- 2021
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Ingår i: Construction and Building Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 0950-0618 .- 1879-0526. ; 286
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Asphalt pavement is subjected to cyclic temperature variations during its service life owing to changes in daily and seasonal climatic conditions. These variations tend to accumulate thermally induced distress leading to initiation and evolution of micro-cracks. The effect of cyclic thermal variations as well as ther-mal incompatibility of mastic and aggregates is of major significance for understanding the behavior of thermally induced damage in pavements. Thermal stress is developed due to differential contraction of mastic relative to aggregates in asphalt concrete at low temperatures. In this paper, low temperature micro-damage initiation in asphalt concrete due to differential thermal contraction is modelled using 2D micro-mechanical volume element. Cohesive zone model (CZM) is adopted to simulate low temper-ature damage initiation at the mastic-aggregate interface (adhesive failure) within the mixtures. A cycle of cooling and heating is applied in the micro-mechanical model in order to capture the effect of thermal damage initiation on the overall stiffness modulus of the mixtures. The results from the model reveal a reduction in stiffness modulus (as compared to the values at similar temperatures within a cycle) after the temperature of-40 degrees C is reached within the applied cyclic cooling and heating. The effects of aggre-gate gradation and binder grade are also monitored by considering four cases of mixtures formed from a combination of two different gradations and two different mastics. Results of the micro-mechanical mod-elling are also compared with experimental observations of comparable mixture types.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Bekele, Abiy, et al.
(författare)
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Slow dynamic diagnosis of asphalt concrete specimen to determine level of damage caused by static low temperature conditioning
- 2017
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Ingår i: 43rd Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 9780735414747
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The phenomenon of slow dynamics has been observed in a variety of materials which are considered as relatively homogeneous that exhibit nonlinearity due to the presence of defects or cracks within them. Experimental realizations in previous work suggest that slow dynamics can be in response to acoustic drives with relatively larger amplitude as well as rapid change of temperature. Slow dynamics as a nonlinear elastic response of damaged materials is manifested as a sharp drop and then recovery of resonance frequency linearly with logarithmic time. In this work, slow dynamics recovery is intended to be used as a means of identifying and evaluating thermal damage on an asphalt concrete specimen. The experimental protocol for measuring slow dynamics is based on the technique of nonlinear resonance spectroscopy and is set up with non-contact excitation using a loud speaker and the data acquisition tool box of Matlab. Sweeps of frequency with low amplitude are applied in order to probe the specimen at its linear viscoelastic state. The drop and then recovery in fundamental axially symmetric resonance frequency is observed after the specimen is exposed to sudden temperature change. The investigation of the viscoelastic contribution to the change in resonance frequency and slow dynamics can help identify micro-damage in asphalt concrete samples.
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| 12. |
- Bekele, Wondimagegne, et al.
(författare)
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Methane production from locally available ruminant feedstuffs in Ethiopia : an in vitro study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Animal Feed Science and Technology. - 0377-8401 .- 1873-2216. ; 312
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Achieving optimal nutrient composition in locally sourced ruminant feeds is important, but can be challenging in resource-limited production systems. For example, improving the composition of available local feed resources is a key obstacle to efficiently mitigating enteric methane (CH4) emissions in ruminants. This study characterized the nutritional content and in vitro methane (CH4) yield of ruminant feedstuffs accessible in Ethiopia. A survey of 60 experienced farmers in two representative districts in Amhara region, Ethiopia, provided 33 feed samples, which were classified into four ruminant feed categories: Grasses (n=10); indigenous plants (trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants) (n=13); crop residues (n=5); and agro-industrial by-products (n=5). Nutritional composition was assessed by proximate and detergent methods. Methane yield (g CH4/kg feed dry matter (DM)) and total gas yield (L/kg DM) were evaluated using a fully automated in vitro gas production system. A colorimetric assay was conducted to measure condensed tannin content (CT, mg/g) in relevant feeds. Lower crude protein (CP) values were observed for the grass (mean 65.2 g/kg DM) and crop residues (mean 54.5 g/kg DM) categories. Agro-industrial by-products had the highest CP (mean 260 g/kg DM), while indigenous plants exhibited intermediate levels (163 g/kg DM). There was significant variation in CH4 yield (P<0.01) between grasses (12.4–24.7 g/kg DM) indigenous plants (1.8–19.3 g/kg DM), and agro-industrial by-products (8.1–26.9 g/kg DM). The indigenous plant Trifolium acaule gave the lowest in vitro CH4 yield (1.8 g/kg DM). A positive relationship was observed between in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), CH4, and total gas yield. Percentage of CH4 in total gas production varied with feed category (grasses 14.5–19.6%; indigenous plants 3.1–16.9%; crop residues 15.8–20.6%; agro-industrial by-products 12.8–18.7%), and within category, e.g., Trifolium acaule (3.1%), Acacia nilotica L. (7.1%), Ziziphus spina-christi (9.9%), brewer's spent grains (BSG) (12.8%), local liquor (areki) residues (14.1%), and local beer (tella) residues (15.1%). A negative relationship was observed between CT content and in vitro CH4 yield, with a stronger (P<0.05) correlation for soluble CTs (R2 = 0.46) than cell-bound CTs (R2 = 0.25) and total CTs (R2 = 0.29). Based on methanogenic properties and effects of CTs on in vitro CH4 yield, indigenous plants should be prioritized in ruminant rations in Ethiopia. Making nutritional composition and CH4 data publicly available could help develop environmentally sound, cost-effective rations for ruminant livestock, benefiting local farmers and leading to more sustainable and efficient livestock production in Ethiopia.
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