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The overall objectives of this study were to determine the most appropriate additive for improving the physical properties and the medium- and high-temperature performances (mechanical performance) of asphalt binders. Three different types of modified binders were prepared: crumb rubber modifier (CRM), polypropylene (PP), and tafpack super (TPS), which had concentrations of 2%, 3%, 3.5%, and 4% by weight of asphalt binder, for each modifier. Their physical and rheological properties were evaluated by applying various tests such as ductility, rotational viscosity, toughness, and tenacity, as well as the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) test. As a result, the physical properties of the modified bitumen binders were compared, as were the medium- and high-temperature performances (mechanical performance), which had temperatures of 58, 64, 70, 76, 82, and 88 °C, respectively. This was how the most appropriate modifier was determined. The results demonstrated that the asphalt binder properties significantly improved by utilizing CRM followed by PP and TPS modifiers. The increase in the rutting parameter (G*/sin(δ)) after asphalt modification indicated its excellent performance at both medium- and high-temperatures. Lastly, the CRM was determined as the most preferred additive because of its positive effect on the physical properties and enhancement of the medium- and high-temperature performance (mechanical performance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since deformation estimation may lead to errors occurring when the camera vibrates, it is necessary to remove the image global motion before computing real bridge deformation. In this study, a combination of image motion correction algorithm and 2D image-based deformation measurement technique was utilized to address the issue of camera motion during the image data acquisition for bridge deformation measurement. Based on the proposed methodology, the image motion parameters were estimated by defining an effective sub-image in the image and using Iterative Affine Motion Estimator. Then the estimated parameters were applied to all pixels of each captured image to remove the motion effect. Finally, the corrected images were used to analyze by a 2D image-based deformation measurement technique in order to extract and measure real bridge deformation by tracking artificial or natural targets. The proposed methodology was validated by two experiments in the lab and field environments. Achieved results show the accuracy and reliability of the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the sensitivity of online magnetic flux leakage (MFL) testing for steel pipe, a sensing method based on the magnetic guiding effect is proposed and investigated in this paper. Compared to the conventional contact sensing method using a non-ferromagnetic support, the proposed method creatively utilizes a ferromagnetic one to guide more magnetic flux to leak out. Based on Hopkinson's law, the principle of the magnetic guiding effect of the ferromagnetic support is theoretically illustrated. Then, numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the MFL changes influenced by the ferromagnetic support. Finally, the probe based on the proposed method is designed and developed, and online MFL experiments are performed to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. Online tests show that the proposed sensing method can greatly improve the MFL sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the effects of the organic loading rate (OLR) and the aeration rate on denitrifying phosphate removal (DPR) from slaughterhouse wastewater treated at a temperature of 11 °C. Three laboratory-scale intermittently aerated sequencing batch reactors (IASBRs) were set up and three OLRs and five aeration rates were employed in the study. The results indicated that efficient removals of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from DPR were achieved. Furthermore, the intermittent aeration pattern benefitted both the phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and the denitrifying phosphorus-accumulating organisms (DPAOs) that accumulated at 11 °C. The ratio of P uptake in the aeration periods/P release in the non-aeration periods was in the range of 0.94-1.10 in the three stages. The relationship between the specific poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) degradation rate (z), the specific P removal rate (x), and the specific total oxidized nitrogen (TON) reduction rate (y) can be fitted approximately as a plane (z = 1.3626x+0.2882y-0.6722, R² = 0.83). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focused on the design and performance characterization of a modified ultra-thin wearing course mixture (M-UWM). A dense graded ultra-thin wearing course mixture with nominal maximum aggregate size of 10 mm was designed and named as UWM10. A multi-chain polyolefin modifier was used to modify the performance of UWM10 to get M-UWM10. Based on different laboratory performance tests including wheel tracking tests, low-temperature bending beam tests, immersion Marshall tests and freeze-thaw splitting tests, the high temperature rutting resistance, low-temperature cracking resistance and moisture resistance of the designed M-UWM10 were evaluated. The texture depth tests and wheel tracking tests were combined to characterize the degradation behaviour of the surface texture depth of M-UWM10. Based on test roads, the bonding conditions between the wearing course layer that consisted of M-UWM10 and its sublayer were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) scanning test and pull out test. Filed texture depth tests were also conducted on the test roads. It is proved that the designed wearing course mixture M-UWM10 shows excellent pavement performance as well as better wearing resistance and interlayer bonding than the traditional wearing course mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the great needs for MFL (magnetic flux leakage) inspection of drill pipes at wellheads, a lift-off-tolerant MFL testing method is proposed and investigated in this paper. Firstly, a Helmholtz coil magnetization method and the whole MFL testing scheme are proposed. Then, based on the magnetic field focusing effect of ferrite cores, a lift-off-tolerant MFL sensor is developed and tested. It shows high sensitivity at a lift-off distance of 5.0 mm. Further, the follow-up high repeatability MFL probing system is designed and manufactured, which was embedded with the developed sensors. It can track the swing movement of drill pipes and allow the pipe ends to pass smoothly. Finally, the developed system is employed in a drilling field for drill pipe inspection. Test results show that the proposed method can fulfill the requirements for drill pipe inspection at wellheads, which is of great importance in drill pipe safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]