Gyratory abrasion with 2D image analysis test method for evaluation of mechanical degradation and changes in morphology and shear strength of compacted granular materials

Mechanical degradation of granular materials can significantly influence the performance and durability of pavement systems. The commonly used Los Angeles (LA) abrasion test does not test the entire gradation of the material, nor simulate the compaction and field loading conditions. A new Gyratory Abrasion and Image Analysis (GAIA) test method was developed in this study and compared with the LA abrasion test for five granular material types. Results show that the GAIA test can address shortcomings of the conventional test, provide insight into mechanical behavior of granular materials during compaction, and enable performance-based specifications for field compaction of granular materials.