Modal and acoustic evaluation of the petrographic properties of Florida coarse aggregates

Acoustic impact-emission tests, Windsor Pin SystemRTM tests and impact frequency response functions are performed on Florida rock samples to identify causal relationships existing between measured responses and samples' petrographic characteristics. Regression analysis is used to relate measured responses with aggregate properties strongly affected by chemical and physical weathering. Aggregate properties such as mineralogy, porosity, and grain size are identified in thin section analyses performed by consultant geologists.; The identification of causal relationships is necessary to satisfy a transfer function model of a durability test for aggregate used in civil engineering applications, namely bank and shore protection.; Strong relationships are shown to exist between Windsor Pin System RTM measurements, impact frequency response functions and some aggregate properties for samples originating from the same quarry. Similarities & differences in the relationships are used to evaluate the feasibility of the applied methods as durability assessments and present considerations for future research of aggregate performance.