Effects of high friction aggregate and PG Plus binder on rutting resistance of hot mix asphalt mixtures

The rutting resistance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) Superpave? mixes in surface course materials was investigated using asphalt material characterisation tests and a digital imaging processing (DIP) technique. The effects of the type of aggregate, the type of binder and the binder content on rutting resistance were quantified. Two types of aggregate were examined: Superpave? SP12.5 and high friction SP12.5 FC2. Both a modified (PG Plus) and an unmodified binders were considered at the optimum binder content and the optimum content plus an additional 0.5%. To accurately identify the effect of each variable, the shear upheave of these mixes was also quantified. The DIP technique involved estimating the number of aggregate contacts, the total contact length and internal structure index of two-dimensional images of the experimentally tested samples. The results showed that both the rutting resistance and stiffness of HMA surface mixes were sensitive to aggregate type, binder type and binder content. A high friction aggregate provided a better internal structure characteristic, as well as superior rutting resistance and stiffness for HMA mixes. The use of PG Plus and the addition of 0.5% to the optimum binder content negatively affected HMA stiffness and rutting resistance. However, the levels of rutting resistance for all mixes were acceptable (rut depth < 12.5 mm), even when the shear upheave was considered. Internal structure indices measured by DIP were effective for capturing changes in the internal HMA structure with respect to aggregate type and asphalt cement content.     

Reconsideration of the fatigue tests for asphalt mixtures and binders containing high percentage RAP

When applying reclaimed asphalt technology in a flexible pavement project, most performance concerns are related to low temperature and fatigue cracking since the stiffness of the HMA mixture could dramatically increase through adding a high percentage of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) material. The purpose of this study is to evaluate asphalt mixtures with high RAP contents, prepared using two RAP addition methods, for their performance based on fatigue-cracking resistance rather than relying on volumetric properties. Asphalt mixture samples were prepared with three RAP binder content replacement percentages (30, 40 and 50%) using two preparation methods: the as-is RAP gradation (traditional method) and the splitting of the RAP gradation into coarse and fine fractions (fractionated method). Asphalt mixture beam fatigue and binder fatigue time-sweep tests were performed. Beam fatigue samples also underwent freeze–thaw cycling for freeze–thaw damage evaluation. Rather than basing the performance based solely on S–N_f curves to illustrate the fatigue performance, the beam fatigue test data was analysed through a dissipated energy approach. Faster fatigue degradation was observed for the 40% RAP binder and beam mixture when subjected to repeated loading. From a morphology aspect, this can be explained by the binder’s phase separation and physical hardening effects.     

Performance of recycled plastic waste modified asphalt binder in Saudi Arabia

The amount of solid plastic waste generated from material packages like plastic bottle and similar utilities within the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has skyrocketed. This is as a result of the increased level of industrial packaging due to rapid industrialisation and fast urbanisation in the country. The associated cost of managing these solid wastes has also multiplied as the task become difficult and enormous. The effect of polypropylene, high- and low-density polyethylene (PP, HDPE and LDPE)-recycled plastic wastes (RPW) on the viscoelastic performance of the local asphalt binder has been investigated. The recycled plastics were obtained by shredding and grounding the RPW to a desirable size for easier blending with the asphalt binder. All the RPWs result in an improved rutting performance. The RPW-modified asphalts upper PG limit increase by at least one level for each 2% increase in the RPW content, in most cases. An increase of 55, 19 and 9% in resilient modulus (M_R) was observed for PP-, HDPE- and LDPE-produced asphalt concrete (AC), respectively. Correlation between the M_R of the AC and non-recoverable creep compliance (J_nr) of the asphalt binder was established. The obtained viscoelastic properties of the RPW-modified binder was utilised to model a typical pavement section using AASHTO mechanistic empirical pavement design guide (ME-PDG) software. The predicted distresses of the modelled pavement shows significant rutting and fatigue performance improvement for pavement produced with the RPW. Elastomeric type of polymer is required to supplement these RPW to enable them meet the AASHTO TP 70 elastic recovery requirement.     

The use of natural rubber latex as a renewable and sustainable modifier of asphalt binder

Natural rubber (NR) powder as a bio-modifier of asphalt binder has been shown to have some beneficial effects. However, there is limited research into the use of the liquid form of NR, i.e. concentrated NR latex, as an asphalt binder modifier. Compared to NR powder, NR latex is cheaper and more accessible in some countries, and potentially creates viscosity-reducing foams in the modified binder during mixture production. In this research, asphalt binders modified with different amount of NR latex were systematically studied, including the rotational viscosities, rutting resistance, fatigue resistance, low-temperature behaviour and temperature sensitivity. The dispersion of the NR latex in the modified binders was examined using fluorescence microscope and atomic force microscope. Test results indicate that the addition of NR latex increases the viscosity and elastic recovery of the modified binders and potentially enhances asphalt pavements’ resistance to rutting, thermal cracking and fatigue damage. The NR latex also reduces the temperature sensitivity of the modified binders. The optimum NR latex content was found to be 7% of the total mass of the modified binder. A network of extensive microstructures mixed with bubbles was identified in the modified binders under heat. As a renewable and sustainable material, NR latex has the potential to be used as an effective asphalt modifier.     

沥青混合料抗剪性能研究综述

总结并评价了沥青混合料抗剪试验方法、抗剪机理及抗剪设计研究现状,对9种剪切试验方法的分析和评价有助于设计、施工和科研人员正确选用这些试验方法。混合料剪切强度由沥青胶泥的性质、集料和沥青界面的剪切强度和集料之间的嵌挤情况共同决定,为提高混合料抗剪性能指出了方向。抗剪设计在应用于工程前尚需深入研究容许剪应力法中相关系数的确定、基于抗剪性能的车辙预估模型的标定等问题。     

Evaluation of the performance of warm mix asphalt in Washington state

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) is a relatively new and emerging technology for the asphalt industry. It offers potential construction and environmental advantages over traditional hot mix asphalt (HMA). However, WMA must perform at least as well as HMA before it can be used extensively. This study evaluates the performance of WMA mixtures and their corresponding HMA control mixtures obtained from various field sites in the state of Washington. Four WMA technologies are examined, including Sasobit^® and three water-foaming technologies, Gencor^®, Aquablack? and ALmix Water Injection. Performance tests are conducted on the field cores to evaluate and compare the rutting, moisture susceptibility, fatigue and thermal resistance of WMA and HMA, respectively. Also, the extracted binders from the field cores are evaluated. In addition, the early-age field performance of WMA and HMA control pavements are compared.     

Microstructure and fracture morphology of carbon nano-fiber modified asphalt and hot mix asphalt mixtures

This paper focuses on the microstructure and fracture surface morphology of neat and carbon nanofibers (CNF) modified asphalts and hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Asphalt binder was modified with 1.5 % of CNF by weight of binder. The modified asphalt was used to construct HMA mixtures at various CNF dosages, mixed with aggregate, using the Superpave Gyratory compactor. Small rectangular specimens extracted from the center of large HMA samples were tested under direct tension and the fracture surface was examined under SEM. The SEM analysis developed a fundamental understanding of the role that the CNF modification plays in the performance enhancement of asphalt and HMA mixtures. It was found that CNF not only possess good adhesion characteristics but also exhibits high connectivity and were evenly distribution throughout the binder. The fracture surface morphology also revealed that CNF exhibited crack bridging at micro/nano scale which may enhance the resistance to cracking due to repeated traffic loads.     

Estimating the moisture damage of asphalt mixture modified with nano zinc oxide

One of the main distresses of hot mix asphalt (HMA) is moisture damage. The most common method for decreasing this type of distress is using antistrip additives. In this study, the effect of nanoparticles was evaluated as an antistrip agent on the moisture damage of HMA. Two types of aggregates were evaluated in this study with different sensitivities against moisture damage (limestone and granite aggregate) and the asphalt binder with 60/70 penetration grade and nano zinc oxide (ZnO) in two different percentages by weight of the asphalt binder. The tests employed to evaluate the effects of modifying asphalt binder by nanomaterials on the moisture damage of asphalt mixture were surface free energy (SFE) and AASHTO T283. The results showed that the ratio of wet/dry values of indirect tensile strength for the mixtures containing nano ZnO for two types of aggregate were higher than the control mixtures. In addition, the results of the SFE method showed that adding nano ZnO increased the total SFE of the asphalt binder, which led to better coating of the aggregate with asphalt binder. Nano ZnO decreased the acid to base ratio of SFE of asphalt binder, while it led to improving adhesion between the asphalt binder and acidic aggregate that are prone to moisture damage.     

Improvements on asphalt mixtures rutting performance characterization by the use of low shear viscosity

The relationship between the rutting performance of dense asphalt concretes and the low shear viscosity (LSV) of different asphalt binders was analysed in a previous work. A LSV limit was found for the original asphalt to prevent the rutting of the mixtures, and in addition, a model to predict the rutting performance based on the LSV of the asphalt binder was validated. With the aim of amplifying the criterion previously found, the performances of micro and stone mastic asphalt mixtures are studied in this work. Conventional, multigrade and polymer modified asphalts were used as binders. Considering that the properties of original and aged asphalts must be taken into account for a better asphalt binder characterization, LSV measurements on aged asphalts were also done in order to analyse their relationship to the mixtures rutting performance. The micro and stone mastic asphalt mixtures showed a similar behaviour as the dense grade asphalt concrete in the previous study. Regarding the control of rutting, a LSV limit of 500 Pa.s was found for original asphalts, while 2,000 Pa.s was the limit for aged asphalt binders. The model to predict the rutting performance of asphalt mixtures was amplified, incorporating both original and aged asphalt LSVs as appropriate input data.     

Evaluation of ageing in asphalt cores using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance

This paper introduces an innovative methodology for estimating the ageing of asphalt concrete cores without extracting the binder. Asphalt concrete samples at different ageing stages (unaged, 3-month and 6-month aged) and with different percent air voids (4%, 7% and 10%) were analysed with low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The transverse relaxation time T₂ and relative hydrogen index (RHI) obtained from NMR measurements were related to the viscosity of the asphalt binder. The samples were analysed during cooling from 70°C to room temperature, showing increase in viscosity with decreasing temperature. There was a clear trend indicating higher viscosities in samples that were aged for a longer period and samples with higher percent air voids. The RHI and T₂ values obtained from low-field NMR measurements and the viscosity data calculated from measurements using a dynamic shear rheometer were correlated to develop a model that relates viscosity with RHI.     

Conceptualizing the asphalt film thickness to investigate the Superpave VMA criteria

Asphalt binder film thickness (FT_b) is the key factor that is responsible for durability of asphalt mixtures. Mixtures with coarse aggregate gradations have difficulty meeting the Superpave minimum voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) criteria even though they tend to have thick asphalt films. In this study, the concept of asphalt binder film thickness (FT_b) was used to investigate the Superpave VMA criteria. Superpave aggregate gradations of three nominal maximum aggregate sizes (NMAS): 9.5, 12.5 and 19.0 mm, were used. Aggregate gradations passing above, below, crossover through, humped, and through restricted zone were all considered. Superpave Gyratory Compactor test data of 126 compacted asphalt mixtures were used in the study. The current Superpave VMA criteria relate the mixture durability with VMA and set the same VMA value for mixtures with the same NMAS regardless of other parameters. However, a poor relationship was found between VMA and FT_b (a durability measure) with an R ² ? 0.01, and yet a relatively good relationship (R ² ? 0.38) was found between voids filled with asphalt (VFA) and FT_b although the VFA volumetric phase is part of the VMA volumetric phase in the mixture. This result was justified by the poor relationship between VFA and VMA (R ² ? 0.13). Despite that the effective binder content (P _be ) as a volumetric phase represents the VFA in the mixture, the relationship between FT_b and P _be was found to be more significant (higher R ²) than the relationship between FT_b and VFA. In this study, asphalt mixtures that did fail the Superpave VMA criteria in some cases had adequate asphalt FT_b, and mixtures that passed the criteria did not necessarily have adequate FT_b. In conclusion, although the current Superpave VMA criteria are significant, findings of this study support the tendency to modify the current criteria.     

Effects of recycled asphalt pavements on the fatigue life of asphalt under different strain levels and loading frequencies

Fatigue lives of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and binder have been studied separately for a long time. However, fatigue lives of HMA containing Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and the binder extracted from the same HMA containing RAP have not been studied yet. This study examines the effects of RAP, loading frequency and strain level on the fatigue lives of asphalt mixtures and binders. In addition, the relationship between the fatigue lives of asphalt mixture and binder is determined. Beam fatigue tests were conducted to determine the fatigue behaviors of two asphalt mixtures: one with 35% RAP and the other without RAP. To evaluate binder’s fatigue behavior, binders were extracted and recovered from these two mixtures. Then, fatigue lives of these two binders were determined using time sweep and Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) tests. Results show that presence of RAP in mixture causes a decrease in the mixture’s fatigue life, whereas it causes an increase in the fatigue life of binder. As expected, an increase in loading frequency results in an increase in the fatigue lives of asphalt mixture as well as binder. In addition, increase in strain level causes a decrease in the fatigue lives of both mixtures and binders. Fatigue lives of binders from time sweep and LAS tests show a good correlation with the mixture’s fatigue life by the beam fatigue test.     

Laboratory characterisation of asphalt mixes containing RAP and RAS

Due to its economic and environmental benefits, using reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS) in new hot-mix asphalt (HMA) has become an integral part of today's asphalt industry. The advantages of using RAP and RAS in HMA are not limited to economic and environmental benefits, and may result in improving a number of mix performance characteristics including rutting and resistance to moisture-induced damage. Despite aforementioned benefits, concerns over premature pavement distresses resulting from using RAP and RAS limit their usage in HMA. Furthermore, because of the lack of mechanistic performance data, use of new mixes containing RAP and RAS remains limited. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of using different amounts of RAP and RAS on laboratory performance of HMA, and to generate valuable input design parameters for implementation of the mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (M-EPDG), using local materials. Four types of base course mixes containing 0% RAP, 25% RAP, 40% RAP and 20% RAP+5% RAS, and three types of surface course mixes containing 0% RAP, 25% RAP and 20% RAP+5% RAS were tested. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate stiffness, low-temperature cracking, fatigue life, rut and moisture-induced damage potential of the mixes. It was found that dynamic modulus and creep compliance of the asphalt mixes increase and decrease, respectively, with an increase in the amount of RAP and/or RAS used in the mix. Fatigue life was found to increase with increasing RAP content up to 25%, and to decrease when the RAP and/or RAS content exceeded 25%, or when RAS was used in the mix. It should be noted that this conclusion was drawn based on a 15% increment in RAP content. Hamburg wheel tracking (HWT) test results showed increased resistance to rutting and moisture-induced damage, with an increase in the amount of RAP and/or RAS. However, the tensile strength ratio test results were not confirmed by HWT. The findings of this study are expected to be helpful in understanding the effects of using different amounts of RAP and RAS on the performance of asphalt mixes produced using local materials. Furthermore, valuable design input parameters, developed in this study for new mixes containing RAP and RAS, may be used for calibration of the M-EPDG input parameters, with local materials.     

Development and application of the Cu-Ni-Fe-Sn-based dispersion-hardened bond for cutting tools of superhard materials

Bonds based on Cu-Ni-Fe-Sn alloy and dispersion-hardened with W, WC, NbC, Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, Si₃N₄, and BN nanoparticles have been developed for the use in diamond tools designed for cutting reinforced concrete and refractory materials. The paper addresses special features of cold pressing and sintering of binder/nanoparticles mixtures as well as physical-mechanical and tribological properties of compact materials. The use of the proposed dispersion-hardened bonds has provided up to 3.5-times longer tool life without decreasing cutting efficiency.     

Dynamic mechanical characterization of asphalt concrete mixes with modified asphalt binders

The primary objective of this work is to characterize and compare the dynamic mechanical behavior of asphalt concrete mixes with styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) polymer and crumb rubber modified asphalt binders with the behavior of mixes with unmodified viscosity grade asphalt binders. Asphalt binders are characterized for their physical and rheological properties. Simple performance tests like dynamic modulus, dynamic and static creep tests are carried out at varying temperatures and time. Dynamic modulus master curves constructed using numerical optimization technique is used to explain the time and temperature dependency of modified and unmodified asphalt binder mixes. Creep parameters estimated through regression analysis explained the permanent deformation characteristics of asphalt concrete mixes. From the dynamic mechanical characterization studies, it is found that asphalt concrete mixes with SBS polymer modified asphalt binder showed significantly higher values of dynamic modulus and reduced rate of deformation at higher temperatures when compared to asphalt concrete mixes with crumb rubber and unmodified asphalt binders. From the concept of energy dissipation, it is found that SBS polymer modification substantially reduces the energy loss at higher temperatures. Multi-factorial analysis of variance carried out using generalized liner model showed that temperature, frequency and asphalt binder type significant influences the mechanical response of asphalt concrete mixes. The mechanical response of SBS polymer modified asphalt binders are significantly correlated with the rutting resistance of asphalt concrete mixes.     

The effect of nanoparticles on the adhesion of epoxy adhesive

In this investigation, the influence of different nanoparticles and surface roughness on the adhesion between epoxy adhesive and steel substrate was primarily investigated. The results of pull-off adhesion tests indicated that nano-Al₂O₃ of the three kinds of nanoparticles had the most influence on adhesion strength, which was the optimal additive for the epoxy adhesive to improve the adhesion strength. Also, it was found that modified by 2% nano-Al₂O₃, the strength multiplication on the surface abraded with silicon carbide paper of 150 grits (150#) was the highest, of three different surface roughness. So, as the results showed that modified by 2% nano-Al₂O₃, the adhesion strength of epoxy adhesive on the surface abraded with 150# was visibly improved by about 5 times. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) displayed nano-Al₂O₃ homogeneously dispersed in epoxy adhesive. Field emission scanning electronic microscope (FE-SEM) revealed that the surface morphology of steel well coincided with that of epoxy adhesive.     

Field performance of top-down fatigue cracking for warm mix asphalt pavements

As a result of repeated rehabilitation efforts over the past few decades, often asphalt pavements have become deep-strength pavements. Consequently, top-down cracking has become a primary distress type. In particular, the top-down cracking performance of warm mix asphalt (WMA) pavements, i.e. how does it compare with similar hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements is largely unclear mainly due to the lack of field performance data. This paper presents an effort of monitoring the top-down cracking performance of 28 pavement projects including WMA pavements and their corresponding HMA control pavements with service lives ranging between 4 and 10 years. These pavements cover different climate zones, WMA technologies, service years, pavement structures and traffic volume levels. Two rounds of distress surveys were conducted at a two-year interval, and the material (asphalt binder and mixture) properties of the pavements were determined using field cores. The top-down cracking performance of the HMA and WMA pavements was compared based on the first and second round distress surveys. It was found that the HMA and WMA pavement in general exhibited comparable performance. The significant determinants (material properties) for top-down cracking were determined, which were vertical failure deformation of mixes measured at 20 °C from indirect tension test.     

Fatigue life and endurance limit prediction of asphalt mixtures using energy-based failure criterion

Fatigue cracking is one of the major types of distress in asphalt mixtures and is caused by the accumulation of damage in pavement sections under repeated load applications. The fatigue endurance limit (EL) concept assumes a specific strain level, below which the damage in hot mix asphalt (HMA) is not cumulative. In other words, if the asphalt layer depth is controlled in a way that keeps the critical HMA flexural strain level below the EL, the fatigue life of the mixture can be extended significantly. This paper uses two common failure criteria, the traditional beam fatigue criterion and the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage model energy-based failure criterion (the so-called G^R method), to evaluate the effect of different parameters, such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content, binder content, binder modification and warm mix asphalt (WMA) additives, on the EL value. In addition, both failure criteria are employed to investigate the impacts of these parameters in terms of the fatigue life of the study mixtures. According to the findings, unlike an increase in RAP content, which has a negative effect on the mixtures’ fatigue resistance, a higher binder content and/or binder modification can significantly increase the EL value and extend the fatigue life as was proved before by other researchers, whereas WMA additives do not significantly affect the mixtures’ fatigue behaviour. A comparison of the model simulation results with the field observations indicates that the G^R method predicts the field performance more accurately than the traditional method.     

Comparison of methods for measuring zero shear viscosity in asphalts

Permanent deformation or “rutting” is a common mode of failure in asphalt pavements. In order to better determine why rutting occurs, current research is focussed on the rheological properties of the asphalt binder. Zero shear viscosity (ZSV) seems to adequately explain how the asphalt binder contributes to the rutting behaviour of the pavement. Still, the measurement of ZSV in a reliable and reproducible way is an open field of discussion. This work looks into the repeatability, benefits and duration of two test methods to measure ZSV: the creep test and frequency sweep test. To account for the influence of the asphalt type, six different conventional and modified asphalts were tested. A statistical analysis was performed to study the variability of each test method and a comparison between both was made.     

Influence of different materials on the microstructure and optical band gap of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

Composites of hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles with different materials (NiO, TiO₂, MnO₂ and Bi₂O₃) were synthesized. Effects of different materials on the microstructure and optical band gap of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were studied. Crystallite size and strain analysis indicated that the pure α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were influenced by the presence of different materials in the composite sample. Crystallite size and strain estimated for all the samples followed opposite trends. However, the value of direct band gap decreased from ～2.67 eV for the pure α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles to ～2.5 eV for α-Fe₂O₃ composites with different materials. The value of indirect band gap, on the other hand, increased for all composite samples except for α-Fe₂O₃/Bi₂O₃.