Analysis of the quality variances of asphalt production by Monte Carlo Simulation

Abstract

The first part of the article discusses the control level and characteristics analysis of the production of an asphalt mixture produced by a normal asphalt mix plant. By examining the stability of production, the analysis identifies the so called process capability indices as well as the density and distribution functions of the tested parameters. With the help of these, a prediction can be made on the Operating Compliance Level (OCL) of the mixture plant provided the existing processes will remain unchanged in the future. In the second part of the article certain stochastic methods i.e. the Monte Carlo Simulation techniques are used to examine the reliability of the production process in order to provide a review on how the dynamic modulus of the asphalt mixture is influenced by the variation of the tested parameters.