Application of Expert Evaluation Method to Determine the Importance of Operating Asphalt Mixing Plant Quality Criteria and Rank Correlation

Abstract

Road asphalt concrete pavement is usually laid of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixture. HMA mixture is produced in an asphalt mixing plant (AMP) according to the technology applied in its structure. AMP shall meet certain requirements set in the norms not only to the quality of HMA mix produced in it, but to environmental protection as well. A possibility to produce an HMA mixture of all required types and marks in it shall be available through the use of various materials and additives, including reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). HMA mixture production costs shall be as low as possible. AMP shall be of appropriate technical condition and with proper equipment, which mostly influence on the technological, ecological and economic parameters. Its actual productivity shall meet the required scope (HMA mixture amount) of road construction works carried out in the serviced region. The article presents 9 criteria of operating AMP quality, mathematical models of determining their significance through the application of an expert research method as well as expert opinion correlation values. Ranks of AMP quality criteria have been replaced by their weight indices through the application of two different methodologies. Quality criteria weight indices may be used according to an additive model through the calculation of operating AMP quality multi-criteria index. A numerical sample is presented at the end of the article. ©Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 2011.