Advances in Civil Engineering
Volume 2018 (2018), Article ID 3089085, 8 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3089085

Research Article

Estimation of the Dynamic Moduli of Viscoelastic Asphalt Mixtures Using the Extended Kalman Filter Algorithm

Yu-Seok Gong,¹ Dowan Kim,² and Sungho Mun³

¹Highway and Transportation Technology Institute, Korea Expressway Corporation, 208-96, Dongbu-daero 922 Beon-Gil, Dongtan-Myeon, Hwaseong-Si 18489, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea
²Department of Road & Airport, Kunhwa Engineering & Consulting Co., Ltd., 321 Teheran-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
³Department of Civil Engineering, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, 232 Gongneung-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea

Correspondence should be addressed to Sungho Mun; smun@seoultech.ac.kr

Received 4 July 2018; Revised 25 October 2018; Accepted 4 November 2018; Published 10 December 2018

Academic Editor: Robert Černý

Copyright © 2018 Yu-Seok Gong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Here, we develop a model predicting the dynamic moduli of hot-mix asphalt/concrete using the extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm and draw frequency-domain master curves. Discrete dynamic moduli were obtained via impact resonance tests (IRTs) on linear viscoelastic (LVE) asphalt at 20, 30, 35, 40, and 50°C. Typically, viscoelastic characteristics have been used to derive asphalt dynamic moduli; compressive frequency sweep tests at different frequencies (Hz) and temperatures are employed to this end. We compared IRT-derived viscoelastic master curves obtained via compressive frequency sweep testing to those derived using the EKF algorithm, which employs a nonlinear sigmoidal curve and a Taylor series to explore the viscoelastic function. The model reduced errors at both low and high frequencies by correcting the coefficients of the master curve. Furthermore, the predictive model effectively estimated dynamic moduli at various frequencies, and also root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) which, together with the mean percentage errors (MPEs), were used to compare predictions.

1. Introduction

The dynamic modulus is the major linear viscoelastic (LVE) parameter of asphalt and has been widely used to study the asphalt/concrete mixtures used to make pavements and rehabilitate roads. Thus, laboratory determination of the dynamic moduli of LVE asphalts is very important. Uniaxial compression is used to this end but requires heavy and expensive testing machines, such as material testing system (MTS) loading frames, equipped with either a 25 or 8.9 kN loading cell depending on the purpose of the test, and a 30 kN Universal Testing Machine (UTM; IPC Global). Normally, dynamic moduli are derived using an MTS or UTM because the values obtained have better global credibility than impact resonance test (IRT) data. However, certain problems are apparent. First, equipment maintenance and operation is expensive. Second, a sinusoidal loading must be directly applied. Thus, it is difficult to both define and adjust the linear range of the applied load during testing; it is essential that the material properties of the asphalt remain unaltered.

Use of the IRT ensures that specimens are not damaged during testing; impact force is delivered by a small steel ball. However, the IRT is regarded less favorably than the MTS and UTM tests because few discrete data points are obtained. Thus, we developed a predictive model of the dynamic modulus using the EKF algorithm and IRT test data. When the EKF algorithm was employed to determine the coefficients and the dynamic moduli of hot-mix asphalt/concrete using IRT data, a reasonably appropriate master curve was created compared to that afforded by UTM measurements. We created predictive models of the dynamic modulus by frequency (e.g., at 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 20 Hz) at the temperatures of 5.3, 20.1, 40.1, and 53.7°C. We used the IRT test to obtain dynamic moduli at 20, 30, 35, 40, and 50°C.

The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2 describes the EKF algorithm and the Taylor series, which are related to the application of an optimization algorithm in this study. Section 3 explains the IRT and conventional, dynamic UTM modulus derivation, which have been used for characterizing asphalt concrete mixtures. Section 4 discusses the test results and comparisons, based on developing a nonlinear master curve and a predictive model for a nonlinear, sigmoidal master curve reflecting the dynamic modulus. Section 5 implements the EKF algorithm according to the master curve; furthermore, the efficiency of the EKF algorithm is discussed in terms of the comparison between the applied EKF and conventional regression algorithms. Finally, we conclude this research, based on discussing the accuracy of the applied EKF algorithm.

2. The Extended Kalman Filter Algorithm

The Kalman filter algorithm is an optimization algorithm analogizing posterior values by adding various weights to stochastic moving averages using a recursive data processing method. The extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm, related to the above algorithm, is derived from the linearized Kalman filter algorithm for a linear system and can be applied to nonlinear systems such as those of the present study. The EKF algorithm features two major steps: estimation and prediction [1–3].

At first, initial values, such as white and observational noise and the true state, are used to execute the EKF algorithm. Using these values, a priori estimates and error covariance can be calculated during prediction. The dynamic modulus values are predicted by a Taylor series (the higher order differentials are ignored) that expresses the modulus with respect to the frequency of the linear state. This can be written as follows:

where and are the estimate and the measurement respectively; is the frequency; and and are the white and observation noise, respectively (and which are normally distributed). We thus obtain

In practice, and represent the process and measurement noise covariances, respectively. The state Jacobian used to linearize a nonlinear model (such as the linearization Kalman filter algorithm) can be expressed as follows:

This Jacobian, and the a priori error and white noise covariance, is used to derive a posterior error covariance:

Next, the a priori estimate and error covariance derived during prediction are used to in turn derive an estimate with error covariance. As indicated in Figure 1, the Kalman gain is initially derived. The role played by this Kalman gain becomes clear on comparing the next step in the calculation of the dynamic modulus with the first-order low-pass filter outcome for a high-frequency signal. This outcome and calculation of the estimated dynamic modulus are shown below:

Figure 1: Flow chart of the EKF algorithm.

The estimated value can be derived from the function , which reflects the relationship between the measured value and both Kalman gain and state variable. In equation (5a), is the weight used to change the value. Thus, comparison of the two equations above shows that the Kalman gain is the weight of the change. Therefore, the Kalman gain can be derived from the estimation error covariance, the linear model, and the noise matrix (e.g., of Equation (6)) associated with the measured variable. A linear model is obtained from the linearized function reflecting the relationship between the measured value and the state variable:

When the EKF algorithm is iterated, the error covariance is derived at the last step; this covariance is used to measure the stochastic accuracy of the dynamic modulus estimate at the frequency in question.

The posterior estimate, calculated during estimation, can be used to determine the a priori estimate for the next step (in which the posterior estimate is applied to the previous a priori estimate). This repeated prediction-to-estimation process continues to the final frequency (5,000 Hz). The procedure is shown in Figure 1. Based on the recurrent relationships among moving averages obtained after first-order low-pass filtering, the EKF algorithm changes the weight of the Kalman gain to predict the result of repeated estimation and prediction processes, based on covariance and the standard normal deviation.

3. Impact Resonance and the Typical Compressive Test

Here, we used the impact resonance test (IRT) to determine the dynamic moduli of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. When the material properties were defined, a discrete dynamic modulus in the low-frequency domain was determined via the IRT; this was compared to the dynamic modulus obtained by UTM testing. Dynamic moduli were obtained at different frequencies; the IRT was used to gather data at various temperatures.

3.1. Impact Resonance Test

The IRT is conducted in a hygrostat chamber of uniform temperature and humidity (Figure 2). The specimen, suspended from two strings, is impacted by a steel ball. A Brüel and Kjær pulse device receives a vibrational analog signal upon impact and digitizes the signal. Then, a frequency response function (FRF) is calculated. The longitudinal vibration of a uniform, LVE specimen can be represented by a one-dimensional wave equation:

where is the longitudinal displacement at position along the string at time and is the reciprocal of the complex wave velocity as follows:

where and , respectively, are the real and imaginary parts of the complex modulus (e.g., the dynamic modulus of the present study); furthermore, is and is the loss factor. To solve the above two equations, separation of variables, imposition of initial and boundary conditions, and use of a Fourier series are required. The equation is divided into a local and a time function:

where is the effective length of the string wave; is the wave number; is the vibrational density after impact; and and are the real components of mutual complex conjugates. In the above equation, the sum of the time functions is the amplitude of the wave equation.

Figure 2: Equipment setup of the IRT.

Many researchers [4–8] performed the IRT and found that when the impact wave penetrated the full width of the specimen, the input mass of the impacted surface differed from the output mass of the opposite surface because of a cancellation effect. Use of a general transmissibility function showed that the input mass was the sum of a mass attributable to offsetting and the output mass. If we exclude the effect of accelerometer weight on the peak transmissibility associated with the cancellation effect, the transmissibility functional amplitude is

where is the product of the complex wave number and the length of the complex as follows:

where is related to the loss factor and is the angular frequency. can be derived by separating the equation into imaginary and real parts:

When a perfect (no-loss) elastic string is used, the transmissibility will be maximal and given by

The relationship between the dynamic modulus and the modal frequency can be derived using of Equations (8a), (8b) and (12a)–(12c) as follows:

In IRTs performed when both ends of the specimen are longitudinally fixed, the frequency resonance function (FRF) around the first maximum excitation (thus over a very short time) is derived.

3.2. Typical Dynamic Modulus Test

We used the UTM to determine the dynamic modulus following the AASHTO-62 procedure [9]. The procedure features six loading rates (20, 10, 5, 1, 0.5, and 0.1 Hz) at 5.3, 20.1, 40.1, and 53.7°C; the specimen was that previously used in the IRTs. In the conventional compressive derivation of the dynamic modulus, linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are attached to the sides of the specimen. A sigmoidal function [10–15] can be used to construct a master curve predicting the dynamic modulus of a hot-mix asphalt (HMA) specimen as follows:

where is the dynamic modulus; is the minimum value of that modulus; , , and are the model parameters; and is the reduced frequency (derived by time/temperature superimposition). The reference temperature for shift factor establishment is 20°C. The reduced frequency can be obtained using the shift factor as follows:

The shift factor of an HMA specimen can be modeled as follows:

4. Test Results

We drew master curves from low to high frequencies based on linear viscoelastic (LVE) parameters; we used both UTM (universal testing machine) and the impact resonance test (IRT) to this end. However, the IRT yielded only a few discrete points. To compare UTM test and IRT data, master IRT curves were obtained by analyzing IRT discrete point data using the extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm; the curves were then compared. The hot-mix asphalt (HMA) specimen contained 10% air void. The asphalt binder of PG (performance grade) 76-22 was used. The gradation used for the mixture is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Gradation used for the mixture.

Sieve size
% passing

1/2″ (12.5 mm)
100

3/8″ (9.5 mm)
51.1

#4 (4.75 mm)
20.0

#8 (2.36 mm)
15.6

#30 (0.600 mm)
10.0

#50 (0.300 mm)
7.7

#100 (0.150 mm)
5.4

#200 (0.075 mm)
4.3

Pan
0.0

The IRT specimen weighed with 2.57 kg and was 150 mm in height and 100 mm in diameter. We performed dynamic modulus testing under AASHTO-62 conditions [9]. The test machine is shown in Figure 3. The IRT was used to obtain dynamic moduli at the temperatures of 20, 30, 35, 40, and 50°C; UTM testing was performed at 5.3, 20.1, 40.1, and 53.7°C using the IRT specimen. The IRT setup is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3: The testing machine of UTM.

Figure 4: Setup of IRT.

4.1. Master Curve Determination Using the UTM Test

A shift factor based on the time-temperature superimposition principle (TTSP) can be used to construct a master curve of the dynamic modulus at any temperature using data from the UTM test. The reference temperature used to construct the regression model for shift factor determination was set to 20°C, estimated using the least squares error method of the second-order polynomial equation (Equation (17)), as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Shift factor of the tested dynamic modulus.

The table below shows the results of the nonlinear regression analysis (based on the least squares error method) used to determine the parameters of the predictive model, where RMSE is the root-mean-square error; R square is the simple Pearson correlation; MPE is the mean percentage error; and the value is the stochastic significance level. Using a standard sigmoidal function, the comparison between estimated and measured values can be represented as shown in Table 2 and Figure 6

Table 2: Parameters of the sigmoidal function, e.g., Equation (15)) and statistical results.

Parameter
Value
Statistical result
Value

2.36
RMSE (MPa)
491.18 MPa

2.01
R square
0.997

1.62
MPE
0.081

0.47
value
7.83E−26

Figure 6: Comparison between measured data of UTM and predicted sigmoidal function.

4.2. Master Curve Determination Using the IRT

In the IRT, both sides of the specimen are fixed when the steel ball impacts; the temperature and humidity are held constant. The ball generates an impulse wave measured by both input and output accelerometers. The frequency response function (FRF) can be calculated using a fast Fourier transform (FFT).

Viscoelastic material can be mathematically modeled in terms of the spring constant and the damping coefficient. However, it is not guaranteed that resonance will occur at the highest FRF. Therefore, a coherence function should be used to evaluate response function reliability:

where and are the power spectrum densities of the input and output signals, respectively, and is the cross-spectral density. The dynamic modulus can be calculated using the IRT, based on Equation (14):

The dynamic modulus is expressed in terms of the resonance frequencies shown in Table 3. The shift factor for IRT was earlier [8] shown to be

Table 3: Dynamic modulus and resonance frequencies of IRT.

Temperature (°C)
20
30
35
40
50

Resonance frequency (Hz)
14.0035
1.65295
0.67565
0.39734
0.17150

Dynamic modulus (MPa)
16965.2
14508.4
11511.5
13540.4
10720.5

Sigmoidal function parameters can be estimated using the generalized reduced gradient (GRG) method to in turn determine the master curve. The reduced dynamic modulus and its curve is shown in Table 3 and Figure 7.

Figure 7: Comparison between measured data and predicted sigmoidal function from IRT.

4.3. Comparisons

The two master curves derived are shown in Figure 8 and were compared to improve confidence in the IRT data. Next, a combined master curve was created to exploit all available data. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) and R square differences between measured and predicted moduli were lowest and highest, respectively, for the dynamic modulus test, reflecting the lower error and a more appropriate trend. However, the IRT MPE (mean percentage error) value was lower. Also, the master curves of the IRT and dynamic modulus test exhibited higher MPEs than the curves of the other tests. However, the extent of agreement was about 99%.

Figure 8: Comparison between UTM and IRT.

5. Model Using the Extended Kalman Filter Algorithm to Predict the Dynamic Modulus

The accuracy of predictions afforded by the extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm was checked by comparing the regression algorithms of the sigmoidal functions, using data from the UTM test and the IRT. We initially fixed data obtained from the sigmoidal function. The standard normal deviation of the dynamic modulus data was first calculated, and the error covariance and average preexisting values of that deviation were determined as

where is the average dynamic modulus and is the error covariance. Figure 9 shows the standard normal deviations of the dynamic moduli derived by the UTM test and the IRT.

Figure 9: Standard normal distribution of the dynamic modulus of UTM and IRT.

An a priori estimate was obtained by applying the Taylor series, which assumes that the relationship between the dynamic modulus to be calculated and the previous dynamic modulus is linear:

where is the number of matrix elements and is the difference in the proportions of linear relationships among frequencies. During the iterative calculations, the estimated distance between frequencies was 0.1 Hz, and this distance was multiplied by 10 to allow integral permutations to the number of matrix elements. The next procedure is shown in Figure 1, and a result was obtained after 57 loops; Figure 10 shows the results.

Figure 10: Master curves using the EKF algorithm.

Optimization based on the EKF algorithm increased the prediction accuracy. As shown in Table 4, the RMSE and MPE values decreased, and the R square values increased, compared to those of the regression approach. Figures 8 and 10 show both results of nonlinear regression method and extended Kalman filter (EKF) optimization algorithm. In comparison, the nonlinear regression method (Figure 8) shows relatively large discrepancy between continuous master curves of UTM-30 and IRT, when compared to the continuous master curves determined from the EKF optimization algorithm (Figure 10). Thus, small improvement of the RMSE, MPE, and R square can result in the nice master curves of two different testing methods because the continuous master curves of dynamic moduli are required to represent the wide range of frequency from 0.0000001 to 100000 Hz.

Table 4: Improvement of EKF algorithm.

UTM
IRT

Regression
EKF algorithm
Improvement
Regression
EKF algorithm
Improvement

2.36
2.36
—
2.36
2.52
—

2.01
2.01
2.01
1.86

1.62
1.71
1.98
1.86

0.47
0.44
0.48
0.49

RMSE
491.18
481.62
9.56
902.29
901.65
0.64

MPE
0.081
0.067
0.014
0.0524
0.0470
0.0054

R square
0.9969
0.9971
0.0002
0.9138
0.9140
0.0002

6. Conclusions

Asphalt concrete materials widely used in pavement construction industries can be complicatedly characterized with respect to viscoelasticity, when compared to other elastic materials such as steel and cement concrete, which are well known in civil and construction engineering. Thus, the frequency-dependent or loading rate-dependent dynamic modulus should be determined in order to represent the linear viscoelastic (LVE) material parameter of asphalt concrete mixture. In this study, two different testing systems were used to determine the LVE material parameters, based on the conventional loading frame system of 30 kN Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and impact resonance test (IRT).

Thus, the LVE material parameters were determined through the extended Kalman filter (EKF) optimization algorithm and typical regression analysis. The EKF algorithm implements two procedures of prediction and estimation; finally, the error between prediction and measurement reduces during the iterations of two procedures. On the contrary, the typical nonlinear regression analysis is based on the least squares error method.

Finally, we used the EKF algorithm to predict the LVE properties of hot asphalt concrete mixtures, resulting in obtaining the dynamic modulus parameters through UTM and IRT. Thus, we compared dynamic moduli derived by regression and application of the EKF algorithm to nonlinear sigmoidal functions, using data obtained from the UTM test and the IRT. The EKF algorithm, with omission of the higher order Taylor series, reduced more errors, affording higher R squared and lower RMSE and MPE values, when compared to the typical nonlinear regression analysis.

Data Availability

The testing data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Research Program funded by the SeoulTech (Seoul National University of Science and Technology).

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