Fatigue behavior of SMA and HMA mixtures

Fatigue crack is a main form of structural damage in flexible pavements. Under the action of repeated vehicular loading, deterioration of the asphalt concrete materials in pavements caused by the accumulation and growth of the micro and macro cracks gradually takes place. The indirect tensile tests was carried out on hot mix asphalt HMA and stone matrix asphalt SMA mixtures comprising different nominal maximum aggregate sizes NMAS in three temperatures of 5, 25 and 40 °C. Stiffness modulus, fatigue lives and fatigue prediction equation of the mixtures were developed and characterized in terms of aggregate gradation type, coarseness and fineness of gradation, temperature and asphalt content.     

沥青混合料渗水特性的试验研究

渗水是沥青路面出现早期损坏的主要原因之一,通过渗水原理及试验方法的分析研究,定量分析了多种因素对不同类型沥青混合料渗水特性的影响规律.结果表明:空隙率、混合料类型及级配、集料最大公称粒径与结构层厚度对沥青混合料渗水特性有较大影响.集料最大公称粒径与混合料空隙率越大、混合料级配越粗、结构层厚度越小,沥青混合料就越容易渗水.与传统悬浮密实型沥青混合料相比,SMA混合料渗水特性更易受空隙率影响.成型方式在混合料空隙较大时对其渗水特性有明显影响,旋转压实方法可以提高沥青混合料的抗水损害能力.     

Effect of asphalt thin beams mixed with three nominal maximum aggregate sizes in the bending beam rheometer on the prediction of thermal properties of bituminous material

The objective of this research is to evaluate an impact of asphalt mixture beams with varying sizes of aggregate in the Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) for testing/predicting thermal cracking properties of asphalt pavements. The BBR test has following benefits: the equipment is cheaper, it uses smaller specimens, faster conditioning, easier availability for quality control, easier to manage, etc. However some concerns have been raised: some consider that the size of the aggregate may affect the test’s results; the other concern is that such small beams cannot represent the whole properties of the asphalt pavement. To address these criticisms, imaging techniques, statistical analysis, and viscoelastic modeling are used. Asphalt thin beams prepared with three different nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) (12.5mm, 9.5 mm, and 4.75 mm) were tested at three different temperatures (-18°C, -24°C, and -30°C). Based on results from statistical analyses and viscoelasticity, the ratio of asphalt binders and voids and stiffness differences among the three NMAS specimens are not significant, meaning that the impact of asphalt thin beams prepared with the three NMAS on the prediction of thermal cracking is minimal and can be neglected.     

级配碎石分形特征分析及其在路面工程中的应用

为了定量分析碎石的级配特征,揭示分形维数与级配碎石关键筛孔通过率的相互关系,并对碎石加工提供控制性指标,通过分形理论方法建立了级配碎石分形关系.用已有的数据进行计算分析后,得到了计算级配碎石分形维数的方法以及料场加工细集料的分形控制标准,并用此标准对现场施工沥青混合料级配的离析进行了评价.结果表明:级配碎石的分形维数与4.750 mm筛孔通过率有良好的相关性,可以用它来对施工时沥青混合料级配的离析进行评价.     

基于厂拌热再生技术的集料密度影响规律

研究了厂拌热再生技术中回收沥青路面材料（RAP）中矿料与新集料的密度差异对混合料空隙率和级配的影响规律,改进了RAP矿料密度的测试方法,提出热再生混合料空隙率法则和广义级配法则： 当RAP矿料掺量和油石比一定时,混合料中矿料的合成毛体积相对密度越小,其空隙率越大;在混合料级配曲线上,受较小密度集料影响的部分曲线段向级配上限靠近,受较大密度集料影响的部分曲线段向级配下限靠近.沥青路面施工必须严格控制集料密度波动.     

沥青混合料配合比设计中的影响因素

沥青混合料是一种比较复杂的复合型材料,它的力学性能与矿料的组成直接相关。介绍了骨架密实型、骨架空隙型和悬浮密实型等3种矿料级配类型的结构特点和工程特性。结合通化市的实际工程经验,指出采用骨架密实型的沥青混合料矿料级配比较理想。在沥青混合料配合比设计中,还应考虑关键性筛孔和最大公称尺寸的影响。     

沥青路面均匀区域构造深度的预估模型

通过现场和室内试验检验国外2个沥青路面均匀区域构造深度预估模型的适用性,结果表明这2个模型都存在一定的缺陷.对上述模型进行改进,确定了以细度模数、最大公称粒径4、.75 mm筛通过率和油石比为自变量的沥青路面均匀区域构造深度预估模型,结果表明,该模型可以较好地预估SMA-16间断级配和AC-20连续级配沥青路面均匀区域的构造深度.     

Prediction of bituminous mixture fatigue life based on accumulated strain

This research was aimed to predict the number of cycles that cause fracture of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) based on the number of cycles at which the slope of accumulated strain switched from decreasing to increasing mode. In addition, the effect of aggregate gradation and temperature on fatigue behaviors of HMA were evaluated.HMA specimens were prepared at optimum asphalt content using the Marshall mix design procedure. The specimens were prepared using crushed limestone aggregate, 60/70 penetration asphalt, and three different aggregate gradations with maximum nominal aggregate size of 12.5, 19.0, and 25.0 mm. Five magnitudes of load (1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 kN) were evaluated for their effect on fatigue behavior.Constant stress fatigue tests were performed using the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) at 25 °C. Other temperatures (10, 45, and 60 °C) were evaluated at a load of 3.5 kN.The tests results indicated that the slope of accumulated strain continued to decrease until the number of loading cycles approached 44% of the number of cycles that caused fracture of the HMA. Also, the initial stiffness of asphalt mixtures was found to increase as the magnitude of the load applied increased and as the aggregate gradation maximum nominal size decreased.     

A simplified approach for mix design based on shape factors of coarse aggregates

The stability of granular materials and bituminous mixes increases with increase in dry density or decrease in voids in the mix. Therefore the proportions of materials in the mix are designed to obtain a desired gradation which yields maximum density. An investigation was carried out on gradation requirements of the mixes to obtain maximum density and stability values, using coarse aggregates with different shape factors. It is found that there is an optimum value of gradation index n of the gradation equation: p%=100 dⁿ/D, for an aggregate with a given value of angularity number. N. A. correlation between values of N and n has been obtained which can be used advantageously in mix design.     

Evaluating skid resistance of different asphalt concrete mixes

At all stages of pavement life, the highway surface should have some sort of roughness to facilitate friction between car wheels and pavement surface. Skid resistance is a measure of the resistance of pavement surface to sliding or skidding of the vehicle. It is a relationship between the vertical force and the horizontal force developed as a tire slides along the pavement surface. The texture of the pavement surface and its ability to resist the polishing effect of traffic is of prime importance in providing skidding resistance. Polishing of the aggregate is the reduction in microtexture, resulting in the smoothing and rounding of exposed aggregates. This process is caused by particle wear on a microscopic scale. It is a common fact that the lower the skid resistance value, the higher the percentage of the traffic accidents, especially during the wet seasons. Having a low skid resistance value at an asphalt concrete surface might be attributed to one or more of the following reasons: (1) use of higher asphalt content than recommended by the mix design procedure, (2) the Marshall mix design procedure itself, (3) used aggregate gradation, and (4) aggregate quality. To evaluate these factors, a comparative study was performed to find the British Pendulum Skid Resistance Number for a number of mixes. These mixes included, an asphalt concrete mix using local aggregate at the optimum Marshall asphalt content, mixes with 0.5% and 1.0% asphalt contents higher than Marshall optimum asphalt content, a mix designed using Superpave design procedure, a mix with steel slag to replace 30% of limestone aggregate, and a mix with stone matrix aggregate gradation. It was found that the mix with 30% slag has the highest skid number followed by Superpave, SMA, and Marshall mixes, respectively. It was also observed that increasing the asphalt content above the optimal asphalt content value decreases the skid resistance of these mixes.     

基于混料设计理论的透水混凝土骨料特征响应分析

骨料级配特征对透水混凝土配合比优化设计方法及其基本性能有较大影响.采用A,B,C 3种粒径的骨料进行混料设计试验,通过对大量的试验数据拟合与方差分析,建立了透水混凝土有效孔隙率、单位体积骨料颗粒数量、骨料比表面积、不同龄期抗压强度与骨料级配的关系式.研究结果对透水混凝土配合比设计方法优化和基本性能的预测具有重要的指导意义.     

再生粗骨料的基本特性研究

为了解再生粗骨料的基本性能并给再生混凝土配合比设计提供依据,本文通过试验对天然骨料和再生粗骨料之间的物理性能差异进行对比,通过对再生粗骨料和天然粗骨料的级配、堆积密度、表观密度、吸水率、压碎指标值对比得出:将废旧混凝土经过多次破碎、筛分去除杂质和清洗后,可以得到级配良好、质量符合规范要求的再生粗骨料。     

骨料对混凝土质量影响的探讨

主要研究了粗、细骨料粒径、级配以及砂率变化对混凝土质量的影响,测定了在基准配合比下,砂的细度模数变化以及碎石颗粒级配变化对混凝土质量的影响,并就骨料粒径、级配的变化对混凝土质量的影响从理论上进行了初步的分析。     

Hybrid random aggregation model and Bayesian optimization-based convolutional neural network for estimating the concrete compressive strength

Numerous experimental studies have shown the type and gradation of coarse aggregates effect on the mechanical properties of concrete. The type and gradation of coarse aggregates have not been taken into account in the available machine learning prediction models. In this study, a two-dimensional concrete microscopic image was generated by using a random aggregate model (RAM), and the coarse aggregate and other concrete ingredients were represented innovatively using polygons and trichromatic chromaticity values in the RAM images. The RAM image set was created by applying this method to represent 1110 sets of different concrete mixes. Then based on the Bayesian optimization algorithm and the image set, a compressive strength prediction model considering the effect of coarse aggregate types and gradations was developed utilizing a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. Meanwhile, an artificial neural network (ANN) compressive strength prediction model was developed using 1110 sets of mix ratio data. The results show that the proposed RAM image generation method has the capability to represent different concrete mix ratios collected in this study. The prediction performance of the CNN compressive strength model considering aggregate types and gradations is better than that of the ANN model. The method can provide a new perspective for predicting other concrete mechanical properties and technically support performance-based intelligent concrete mix design.     

Determination of the optimum conditions for tire rubber in asphalt concrete

The Taguchi method was used to determine optimum conditions for tire rubber in asphalt concrete with Marshall Test. The tire rubber in asphalt concrete was explored under different experimental parameters including tire rubber gradation (sieve #10–40), mixing temperature (155–175 °C), aggregate gradation (grad. 1–3), tire rubber ratio (0–10% by weight of asphalt), binder ratio (4–7% by weight of asphalt), compaction temperature (110–135 °C), and mixing time (5–30 min). The optimum conditions were obtained for tire rubber gradation (sieve #40), mixing temperature (155 °C), aggregate gradation (grad. 1), tire rubber ratio (10%), binder ratio (5.5%), compaction temperature (135 °C), mixing time (15 min).     

钢纤维大粒径混凝土断裂性能研究

针对水利工程对大粒径混凝土增韧限裂的要求，进行了二级配骨料钢纤维混凝土的断裂性能试验，得出了在不同钢纤维体积率下的断裂韧度和断裂能，并通过方差分析了钢纤维长度、骨料粒径和试件尺寸等对钢纤维混凝土断裂韧度的影响。结果表明：钢纤维的掺入明显提高了二级配混凝土的断裂性能，对其有良好的增韧效果。     

Effects of aggregate structure on hot-mix asphalt rutting performance in low traffic volume local pavements

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of mix gradations associated with the Superpave restricted zone on rutting potential specifically for low traffic volume roadways. Although the elimination of the restricted zone requirement in Superpave mix design is highly recommended, some questions still remain unanswered as the research conclusions supporting the elimination of the restricted zone were largely made for medium to high traffic volume roadways, where aggregates are highly crushed and of good quality. The applicability of such research conclusions based on high traffic volume mixes needs to be verified for low volume mixes because many states in the US use non-crushed local aggregates for low traffic volume pavements, which might be related with aggregate gradation. This paper summarizes the research findings obtained from a systematic approach consisting of (1) statistical analyses of pre-existing data accumulated for quality assurance purposes, (2) experimental investigations based on the statistical analysis results, and (3) in-field investigation of the rutting performance of low traffic volume pavement. The comparison and analysis results indicate that similar to that for medium to high traffic volume pavements, the restricted zone is not a controlling factor affecting hot-mix asphalt rutting performance for low traffic volume local pavements. The fineness of aggregate gradation rather than the restricted zone seems to be a factor that affects rutting performance.     

A comparative study of concrete properties using coconut shell and palm kernel shell as coarse aggregates

The high cost of conventional building materials is a major factor affecting housing delivery in Nigeria. This has necessitated research into alternative materials of construction. This paper presents the results of an investigation carried out on the comparative cost analysis and strength characteristics of concrete produced using crushed, granular coconut and palm kernel shells as substitutes for conventional coarse aggregate in gradation of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Two mix ratios (1:1:2 and 1:2:4) were used. A total of 320 cubes of size 100×100×100 mm were cast, tested and their physical and mechanical properties determined. The results of the tests showed that the compressive strength of the concrete decreased as the percentage of the shells increased in the two mix ratios. However, concrete obtained from coconut shells exhibited a higher compressive strength than palm kernel shell concrete in the two mix proportions. The results also indicated cost reduction of 30% and 42% for concrete produced from coconut shells and palm kernel shells, respectively. Considering the strength/economy ratio, it was concluded that coconut shells were more suitable than palm kernel shells when used as substitute for conventional aggregates in concrete production.     

Petrographic,mechanical and chemical properties of sand resources in Lebanon,eastern mediterranean

In a previous study, the results of extensive surveys and investigations covering 80 percent of the Lebanese territory to locate the major sand resources, were reported. Forty-one samples representing major operating sand quarries or sand excavation sites were located, described, and sampled. The research program reported in this paper was designed to evaluate the 41 sand samples based on petrographic analysis, mechanical and chemical acceptance tests, and results of tests conducted on fresh and hardened concrete samples identical except for the type of sand. Conclusions are presented concerning each sand source. In general, Lebanese sands were found to be fine, poorly graded, and rich with material finer than #200 sieve (0.075 mm). The gradation of the sands used was found to have the most significant effect on concrete compressive strength. Because of the scarcity of construction material resources, techniques are presented to improve the gradation of Lebanese sands and to clean them from excessive deleterious substances.     

高温下橡胶沥青胶浆特性及矿料级配优化分析

为改善橡胶沥青混合料的高温性能,提出以橡胶沥青胶浆和矿料级配为主要研究对象的优化思路。通过室内试验,首先研究粉胶比对橡胶沥青胶浆抗车辙因子和相位角的影响;然后结合橡胶沥青的特异性,对其橡胶沥青混合料的矿料级配进行选择和调整,将动稳定度和相对变形作为混合料高温性能评价指标,得出优化后的矿料级配。研究结果表明,提高橡胶沥青混合料高温稳定性的措施有:适当调整粉胶比,控制在1.2左右为宜;以水泥取代矿粉作为混合料的填料;以传统SMA级配为基础,对混合料级配作出调整,适当降低填料比例,能够实现橡胶沥青混合料高温稳定性的优化。