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The process of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) recycling may occur multiple times during the life of the pavement. This study investigates the effect of multiple recycling on binder properties by employing a virgin 3045 PEN grade binder that was aged in the laboratory intended to simulate aging of binders in RAP. The aged binder was rejuvenated using two bio-oils and one softer binder. The doses of the bio-oils and softer binder were determined by matching the continuous high-temperature performance grade (PGH) of the rejuvenated RAP binder to that of the virgin binder. This aging and rejuvenation cycle was repeated three times. Finally, fatigue and rutting performance of the binder was evaluated for the three reuse levels. Results indicate that the material can be reused up to three cycles keeping good performance on fatigue or rutting. However, care should be taken regarding the cumulative effect of bio-oils causing an over-softening effect on the of the RAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural assessment is critical for designing asphalt pavement overlays, estimating the remaining life of pavements, and selecting an appropriate rehabilitation strategy for existing pavements. The falling weight deflectometer (FWD) serves as the primary nondestructive test used for evaluating the in situ properties and structural capacity of asphalt pavements. The current procedure involves analyzing the FWD response and estimating layer moduli by assuming an elastic response. However, the response of asphalt layers is viscoelastic (i.e., temperature- and frequency-dependent). This study proposes an approach that combines FWD data with laboratory measurements of the dynamic moduli of field cores to determine the in situ viscoelastic properties of asphalt layers. This approach is implemented by analyzing FWD data from four pavement sections in Qatar. Furthermore, the paper includes a comparative analysis of the response of pavement sections in which the asphalt layers are modeled using dynamic modulus master curves obtained from laboratory tests and those obtained using the approach presented in this study. It was found that using the laboratory-based master curves overestimated pavement performance (i.e., underestimated pavement distresses). It is recommended to use the dynamic moduli from the method presented in this paper for a more accurate estimation of pavement response and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skid resistance is a key factor in road safety. Surface friction characteristics of roads are dependent on the microtexture and macrotexture of the surface. The decay of skid resistance with time is a function of traffic level and aggregate characteristics. This study developed predictive models for skid resistance of asphalt pavements and seal coat surfaces. The researchers examined the surface friction characteristics of 35 asphalt pavement test sections and 35 seal coat test sections. The skid number was measured using a skid trailer, while the microtexture and macrotexture of the test sections were measured using a dynamic friction tester and a circular texture meter, respectively. The Aggregate Image Measurement System (AIMS) and Micro-Deval test were also used to evaluate the aggregate shape properties and its resistance to polishing and abrasion. The developed skid prediction models express the skid number over time as a function of aggregate gradation, aggregate resistance to abrasion and polishing, and traffic level. The models showed good correlations with skid numbers measured in the field. These models can be used to optimise the mix design to provide adequate level of friction and estimate the skid number of asphalt pavements and seal coat surfaces over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of high amounts of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in asphalt pavements has many economic and environmental benefits; however, there are concerns about brittleness and potential cracking of asphalt mixtures. One of the solutions to address this concern is through the inclusion of recycling agents (rejuvenators). The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of different types of recycling agents (biooils, vegetable oils, tall oil, aromatic extract, and paraffinic oil) on the rheological, microstructural, nanomechanical, and chemical properties of asphalt binder blends with high RAP content. Rheological properties were assessed using a dynamic shear rheometer. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the microstructural characteristics and nanomechanical properties of the asphalt binder blends. A wavelet packet transform approach was proposed to quantify surface roughness characteristics. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to evaluate the chemical properties based on carbonyl and sulfoxide indices. Results indicated a correlation between the phases observed in the microstructure and rheological performance. Biooil recycling agents were the most effective in improving the microscopic distribution and rheological properties of binder blends, followed by vegetable oils. However, chemical analysis suggested that the addition of recycling agents did not reverse oxidative aging. Finally, the study recommended a rejuvenation index (RI) that quantified the effectiveness of recycling agents in improving blending and reducing stiffness and aging susceptibility. The RI signified that tall oil was the most susceptible to aging, followed by aromatic extract and paraffinic oil, whereas biooils and vegetable oils were the least susceptible to aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response and degradation of the hot mix asphalt (HMA) materials used in pavement structures are affected by their inherent heterogeneity. The objective of this work is to study the impact of two different sources of HMA heterogeneity in the uncertainty of the mechanical moisture degradation of HMA. The first source of heterogeneity is the spatial variability of the properties of the bulk fine aggregate matrix (FAM) of the mixture, and the second is the location and shape of the coarse aggregate particles. The heterogeneity of the bulk FAM phase was modelled using a random field technique, while that of the coarse aggregates was accounted for by randomly generating realistic probable sets of aggregate particles. Thus, ‘computational replicates’ of HMA microstructures were generated and subjected to moisture diffusion and mechanical loading using a finite element approach. In the mechanical simulations, a non-linear viscoelastic moisture damage constitutive relationship based on continuum damage mechanics theory was selected to characterise the response of the bulk FAM phase. The results show that conducting computational simulations with realistic HMA microstructures that properly capture the heterogeneity of the material is useful to quantify the mean values and dispersion (i.e. uncertainty) associated with the response and degradation of the mixture. This information, which cannot be easily obtained in the field or in the laboratory due to the difficulty of acquiring a sufficient amount of data, is useful to conduct structural reliability analysis and to predict the life cycle behaviour of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 timeT2and 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 andT2values 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue cracking is one of the most serious distress modes affecting the serviceability of asphalt pavement structures. The inherent variability of asphaltic materials exhibited in fatigue test results, especially for specimens acquired from field pavements, makes the task of accurately predicting the material’s fatigue characteristics rather difficult. The problem is further exacerbated by the combined impact of a large number of factors, including loading conditions, material heterogeneity, ageing, construction quality and others. For these reasons, notable uncertainty is associated with the predicted fatigue life from laboratory tests based on the use of phenomenological models, which adopt deterministic input parameters despite the varying levels of uncertainty embedded in them. To investigate the effect of inherent uncertainty associated with asphalt mixtures on their fatigue life prediction, a probabilistic analysis approach is evidently needed. In this study, probabilistic analysis was applied to the fatigue life prediction model deduced from the viscoelastic continuum damage theory, based on testing various types of asphalt mixtures. The outcome of the analysis is a newly developed approach with the ability to predict the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures at more consistent and reliable levels than current practice permits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a proven technology that is used typically to determine the thicknesses of pavement layers. This paper explores the applicability of the GPR to assess the density of the asphalt layer in pavements. The measurements were conducted on three test sections that were constructed using different asphalt mixtures. Each of the test sections was divided into sub-test sections that were compacted using different compaction methods and number of roller passes in order to achieve a range of asphalt mixture densities. The results showed that there was very good correlation between the GPR results and density of extracted field cores. Consequently, the paper examines the correlation between density and mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures. The results of the mechanical tests provided valuable information on the effect of density on performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of compaction significantly influences the performance of asphalt mixtures. Insufficient compaction often leads to excessive premature permanent deformation, excessive aging, and/or moisture damage. The research reported in this paper was aimed at developing a prediction model for laboratory compaction of asphalt mixtures. The model was developed based on extensive laboratory measurements and it includes parameters that describe aggregate shape characteristics, aggregate gradation, and binder content. The results show that the asphalt mixture type, aggregate properties, and binder content have a significant effect on the slope and intercept values of the laboratory compaction curves. Two models that describe both the slope and intercept of the laboratory compaction curves of asphalt mixtures are presented. These models provide valuable inputs that can be used to quantify the compaction effort needed to compact asphalt mixtures in the laboratory and correlate this effort to field compaction requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population and economy in the State of Qatar have been increasing in the past 5 years. Accordingly, traffic loading has also increased rapidly, which affected the performance of existing roads and highways. This high traffic loading merits consideration of the design and construction of long-lasting pavements that require minimal maintenance. The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (PWA) of Qatar constructed a field experiment that consisted of six different pavement sections in order to investigate the influence of using different materials and asphalt mixture designs on performance. This paper presents a comprehensive study for the field evaluation of the performance of these trial sections. The evaluation involved the use of the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) and a vehicle equipped with instruments for measuring permanent deformation and cracking. These field measurements were complemented with laboratory measurements on field cores: the dynamic modulus, flow number, and semicircular bending tests. The results revealed that the increase in temperature between winter and summer in Qatar reduced the stiffness of asphalt mixtures by about 80%. The sections in which polymer-modified bitumen was used had the lowest temperature susceptibility. Moreover, the results showed that the bitumen and aggregate type significantly affected the stiffness and the trial sections' resistance to rutting and fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The State of Qatar is experiencing tremendous growth in infrastructure including road network and highways. The current methods used in design of asphalt pavements in the State of Qatar are empirical and might not be suitable for the design of long-lasting pavements. Given the significant increase in traffic, road authorities in the State of Qatar have been considering the use of mechanistic-empirical methods in the design and analysis of asphalt pavements. This study documents the results of a study in which the mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (M-E PDG) software was used in the design of asphalt pavements with input parameters that were carefully selected to reresent local materials and climatic conditions. The selection of material properties was based primarily on specifications and design guides in the State of Qatar and on published literature about these materials. The mechanistic-empirical method was also used to assess the benefits of adopting the concepts of perpetual pavement design and also to compare the performance of pavement structures in which various bitumen grades, granular bases and chemically stabilised sub-base were used. A life-cycle cost analysis was carried out to determine the design with the highest net present value among the various options investigated. It is expected that the outcomes of this study would promote the use of mechanistic-empirical methods in the State of Qatar and the region. Inevitably, this will require significant efforts to calibrate material and damage prediction models used in the M-E PDG for more accurate representation of material properties and measured pavements performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cyclic hardening-relaxation model is proposed that significantly enhances the prediction of the viscoplastic (VP) strain of asphalt concrete under cyclic compressive-loading conditions at high temperatures. The hardening-relaxation mechanism is physically tied to the changes in the material's microstructure during the rest period. A memory surface that memorizes the viscoplastic deformation history is defined in the viscoplastic strain space as the general initiation and evolution criteria for the hardening-relaxation mechanism. The proposed model is coupled to the classical Perzyna-type viscoplastic model and Schapery's nonlinear viscoelastic model, and the associated numerical algorithms are implemented in the finite element software ABAQUS through the user-defined material subroutine UMAT. Model predictions show that the proposed model predicts well both the axial and radial viscoplastic responses of asphalt concrete subjected to the cyclic creep tests at various loading times, unloading times, confinement levels, and loading scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skid resistance of asphalt pavement is a major characteristic of road safety. This study aimed at the development of a model that expresses skid resistance as a function of mixture gradation, aggregate texture and traffic level. The model was developed based on comprehensive measurements and analysis of asphalt mixture surface characteristics (friction, texture and skid resistance) in the laboratory and the field. In addition, aggregates were characterised using the aggregate imaging system after different polishing intervals in the Micro-Deval. The aggregate gradation was described using the two-parameter cumulative Weibull distribution function. The developed model provides an estimate of the skid number in the field. Consequently, this model can be used by engineers to select different combinations of aggregate types and mixture designs such that the desired level of skid resistance at a given traffic level is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many research studies and field experiences have shown a strong relationship between wet-weather accidents and pavement skid resistance. Therefore, measurement methods and models are needed to evaluate the safety level of driving on an asphalt pavement surface during its service life. The objective of this study was to develop a skid resistance prediction model based on measurable quantities such as aggregate shape characteristics, aggregate gradation, aggregate resistance to polishing, and traffic level. To achieve this objective, the skid number (SN) of asphalt pavement sections and traffic data were acquired and analyzed. In addition, statistical analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between different aggregate properties, pavement surface characteristics, and the measured SN values. The aggregate properties were measured using conventional test methods (acid insolubility, magnesium soundness, micro-Deval, and British polish value), and the Aggregate Imaging System (AIMS). The pavement surface characteristics were measured using the dynamic friction tester and circular texture meter. The statistical analysis led to the development of a new model for predicting the asphalt pavement SN as a function of traffic level, initial and terminal aggregate texture values measured using AIMS, and aggregate gradation described using the two-parameter Weibull distribution function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic modulus test is conducted based on the assumption that no damage is induced during the testing process and that measurements are conducted within the linear viscoelastic region. In addition, the level of damage that occurs in the flow number test has not been quantified. The objectives of this study are to quantify the levels of damage in the dynamic complex modulus and flow number tests by using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and to characterize the microstructural properties of asphalt mixtures under loading. Four Superpave mixtures, including one conventional hot-mix asphalt (HMA) and three warm-mix asphalt (WMA) mixes, were evaluated. Two WMA processes (i.e., water foaming and Rediset additive) were used in the preparation of the WMA mixes. In addition, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) was used in the preparation of the mixes at a content ranging from 15-30%. Results of the experimental program indicated that the damage incurred in the dynamic modulus test is minimal and homogeneous, but the damage incurred in the flow number test is significant and heterogeneous. In addition, specimen preparation may significantly influence the three-dimensional air voids distribution in HMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture damage in asphalt mixtures is defined as the gradual loss of structural integrity caused by the presence of moisture. A simple experimental procedure was developed in this study to measure water vapor diffusion coefficients in coarse aggregates, fine aggregate mixture (blend of the fine portion of the aggregates with the asphalt binder), and hot-mix asphalt. The procedure is based on periodic weight measurements of specimen-container ensembles subjected to a controlled temperature and relative humidity environment. Fick’s first law was used to estimate the diffusion coefficients of the materials. The results show that the proposed experimental method is an economic and efficient tool to quantify water vapor diffusion coefficients. Determining these material properties is fundamental to develop numerical models to study the deleterious effects of moisture vapor on the mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures. In order to exemplify the significance of the experimental measurements, a numerical simulation of transient moisture diffusion within the cross section microstructure of an asphalt mixture was conducted. The results of the simulations suggest that diffusion coefficients are fundamental for tracking the potential of a mixture to develop moisture-related degradation processes. Furthermore, it was observed that under the same environmental conditions, moisture damage in an asphalt mixture is highly influenced by the moisture diffusion coefficient of its constitutive phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of moisture in asphalt pavements detrimentally affects the bond between the aggregate and binder and the bond within the binder. The loss of these bonds leads to the deterioration of asphalt pavements. In regions with low rainfall, moisture diffusion is an important source of moisture transport in asphalt mixtures. The diffusion coefficient is a necessary input for models simulating moisture transport and, consequently, moisture damage in asphalt pavements. In this study, an experimental protocol was developed for determining the moisture diffusion coefficient of asphalt mixtures. The experimental set-up relies on measuring suction over time in test specimens using thermocouple psychrometers. The proposed protocol successfully determined a wide range of diffusion coefficients (i.e. from 5.67 × 10- 5 to 2.92 × 10- 6 cm2/s) of different asphalt mixtures. X-ray computed tomography was used to characterise the air void structure of test specimens. The results revealed good correlation between the diffusion coefficient value and the per cent of air voids and the average radius of air voids in the test specimens. The diffusion coefficient values determined in this study can be used as an input in models for determining the rate of moisture diffusion in asphalt mixtures with different per cents of air voids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutting has been identified as one of the primary distresses in asphalt pavements. Rutting in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures can be attributed to either the lack of interlocking of aggregate structure or insufficient bonding between aggregate and asphalt binder, or both. In the present study, efforts have been made to identify the contributions of aggregate structure and asphalt binder to the rutting characteristics of a dense-graded surface HMA mixture. Coarse gravels at five different angularity levels (100, 85, 70, 50 and 35% of aggregate with two or more fractured surfaces) were used to produce mixtures with similar aggregate gradations. Three different asphalt binders (PG 64-22, PG 76-22 and PG 82-22) were used to make mixtures for laboratory rut evaluations. The aggregate imaging system (AIMS), uncompacted voids in coarse aggregate (VCA) and tri-axial shear tests were conducted to evaluate the coarse aggregate angularity (CAA). The US Army Corps of Engineers' gyratory testing machine (GTM), creep and the asphalt pavement analyser (APA) tests were selected to characterise the rut resistance of asphalt mixtures. The results from this study indicated that coarse aggregate AIMS, VCA and tri-axial tests were related to the CAA and laboratory-measured rutting indices. At temperatures close to the binder's upper grade limit, aggregate structures played a critical role in the rut resistance of HMA mixtures; whereas, at temperatures below the binder's upper grade limit, the stiffness of the asphalt binder played a more important role in the rut resistance of asphalt mixtures evaluated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, a number of full-depth or perpetual pavements have been designed and constructed in the State of Texas. A study was conducted to examine the quality of the compaction of the thick asphalt layers within these pavements using advanced forensic tools such as X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) and ground penetrating radar (GPR). The GPR is a nondestructive tool for evaluating the uniformity of density in pavements at highway speed. X-ray CT is a laboratory tool that is used to conduct detailed analysis of air void distribution and uniformity in asphalt pavement cores. This paper presents the results of analyzing one of the perpetual pavements constructed in State Highway 114 (SH-114). In this project, two different structural asphalt pavement sections were placed, one included a 1 in. (25.4 mm) stone filled (SF) Superpave mix and the other included a traditional dense graded Type B material. The dense graded Type B material was found to be uniformly compacted. However, major compaction problems were identified with the coarse SF Superpave mix. The poor compaction and associated high percent air vsoids were found to permit moisture infiltration, which could potentially lead to rapid pavement deterioration. The analysis showed very good agreement between the GPR and X-ray CT results and demonstrated the efficiency of using GPR and X-ray CT in the evaluation of asphalt pavement compaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregate properties are one of the important factors that influence the asphalt pavement skid resistance. This paper presents a detailed analysis of aggregate texture and its relationship to pavement skid resistance. A new method is developed for the evaluation of aggregate resistance to polishing. This method relies on the Micro-Deval test as the mechanism for polishing aggregates and the Aggregate Imaging System (AIMS) for quantifying the change in texture due to polishing. The results show that the Micro-Deval test is an effective method for polishing aggregates within a short time. Also, the AIMS texture analysis is able to rapidly and accurately quantify the influence of polishing on texture. The verification of the new method was achieved through measuring the skid resistance of pavements constructed using three different aggregate sources and three different aggregate gradations. The skid resistance was found to be related not only to average aggregate texture, but also to the texture distribution within an aggregate sample. The developed method can be used in models for predicting the change in asphalt pavement skid resistance as a function of aggregate texture, mixture properties, and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1960s, a uniform circular vertical contact stress has been used to model the tire/pavement interface in asphalt pavements. Recent experimental measurements show that this assumption cannot be used to model the actual interaction. This study investigated the influence of nonuniform contact stress distribution on the stress distribution and permanent deformation profile in asphalt pavements. A previous study measured the tire contact stresses between the pavement surface and moving pneumatic tires. Material properties of a hot mix asphalt mixture used at WesTrack were obtained from compressive strength tests within the framework of an elastic-viscoplastic constitutive model. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis was performed based on boundary conditions and measured vertical stresses at WesTrack. The tire pressure distribution was dependent on the tire load and significantly influenced the pavement response. The FE analysis based on the elastic-viscoplastic model was able to simulate the measured permanent deformation profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permanent deformation is one of the major distresses in asphalt pavements. It is caused mainly by high traffic loads associated with high field temperatures. An anisotropic viscoplastic continuum damage model is developed in this study to describe permanent deformation of asphalt pavements. The model is based on Perzyna’s formulation with Drucker–Prager yield function modified to account for material anisotropy and microstructure damage. The material anisotropy is captured through microstructural analysis of aggregate distribution on two-dimensional sections of hot mix asphalt. A damage parameter is included in the model to quantify the nucleation of cracks and growth of air voids and cracks. A parametric study was conducted to demonstrate the sensitivity of the model to strain rate, aggregate distribution, and microstructure damage. Triaxial strength and static creep measurements obtained from the Federal Highway Administration Accelerated Loading Facility were used to determine the model parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resilient properties of unbound aggregate bases are important parameters in the design of asphalt pavements. Previous studies have shown that these resilient properties exhibit nonlinear and transverse anisotropic characteristics. The paper in hand presents a micromechanics-based approach to model the nonlinear and anisotropic properties of unbound aggregate bases. The anisotropic behavior is captured using two microstructure parameters representing the preferred orientation of aggregate particles, and the ratio of the normal contact stiffness to shear contact stiffness among particles. The nonlinear response is modeled using a relationship that relates the shear modulus to particle packing, material properties, particle size, and confining pressure. The micromechanics model is used to represent the resilient properties for a total of 18 different combinations of material conditions with different aggregate types, moisture contents, and gradation characteristics. Anisotropic and nonlinear resilient properties were measured at ten different stress states for each of the material conditions. The results presented in this paper show that the micromechanics model is capable of successfully representing the experimental measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving proper compaction of asphalt pavement is crucial to its longevity and acceptable performance. Laboratory compaction is an essential part of mix design. In order for the mix design process to be effective, laboratory compaction must adequately simulate field compaction. This study used mechanical properties measured with the Superpave shear tester to evaluate field compaction and laboratory compaction. The field compaction consisted of three test sections with different compaction patterns. The laboratory compaction used the Superpave gyratory compactor with adjustments to several parameters. Results of this study indicate that current gyratory protocol produces specimens with significantly different mechanical properties than field cores produced with the same material and compacted to the same air voids. Results also show that adjustments to certain parameters of the gyratory can produce specimens that better simulate the mechanical properties of pavement cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated with sustainability and economic factors, there is a rapid increase in the use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) material in the construction of new asphalt pavements. This necessitates the development of better understanding of the interaction between recycled and virgin binders, as well as studying the influence of this interaction on the properties of the blended binder. This paper provides in-depth evaluation of these properties at various scales using chemical, mechanical and rheological tests. This study involved the use of binders with different proportions of RAP (0, 15, 25, 35 and 100%). The chemical characterization of these binders was carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and the results showed that higher peak levels of C O and S O bonds were observed with the increase in RAP binder content. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging of these binders showed that the surface roughness increased with an increase in RAP content especially when the RAP proportion exceeded 25%. The multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test was used to measure the rutting resistance, and the linear amplitude sweep test (LAS) was used to evaluate the fatigue resistance. There was slight improvement in rutting resistance with an increase in RAP content; however, the fatigue resistance degraded with the addition of RAP. The moduli/stiffness of virgin, RAP and blended binders was determined using Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), Nanoindentation (NI), and AFM. The moduli obtained from these three techniques increased exponentially and at similar rates up to 25% of RAP. However, the dynamic modulus from DSR increased at a higher rate than the nano-scale moduli at higher RAP contents. This finding suggests that the nano-scale interactions were not influenced by the increase in RAP content as the DSR measurements of dynamic modulus and fatigue life values imply. The nano-scale understanding of blended binder offers opportunities for better engineering and accommodation of RAP in asphalt mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors discuss the shift toward a mechanistic method of analyzing and designing asphalt pavements. The authors say that the empirical approach will provide limited information on the fundamental properties of materials, losing configuration and distribution of loads. They add that the approach is no longer acceptable because of the changing conditions of the road network. They claim the material models of the empirical-mechanistic design guide are still oversimplified.

The article addresses the importance of understanding the moisture damage inducing mechanisms in order to come up with effective tests in making asphalt pavements. It suggests the need for a material characterisation and modelling approach that is established based on fundamentals to improve systems for the design and analysis of asphalt pavements.

Focuses on the microstructure of composite material hot mix asphalt (HMA), an upper layer of asphalt pavements. Complexity of HMA behavior; Basis of experimental characterization of HMA; Micromechanics of HMA.

Abstract: Studies have shown that Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) is a good method to evaluate the resistance of the Fine Aggregate Matrix (FAM) portion of asphalt mixtures to cracking and moisture damage. However, a systematic, simple method to design FAM that accurately represents the composition and structure of that portion of the mixture needs to be developed. New procedure for preparing FAM specimens and software to analyze the data from the DMA and calculate fracture mechanics-based parameters were developed. The new specimen preparation method and software were successful in analyzing the moisture susceptibility of FAM mixtures prepared using different materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is a great interest in developing and implementing new technologies for real-time evaluation of the uniformity of the construction of asphalt layers. In this study, the researchers developed a system for monitoring and documenting the compaction process of asphalt mixtures in the field. This system is called the compaction monitoring system (CMS). The CMS uses the latest global positioning system technologies and various sensors to provide full coverage of an asphalt layer. The new system can be mounted on any roller in a matter of minutes, and it provides the roller operator with real-time color displays of the number of passes of the entire mat, the compaction effectiveness, and the temperature at the first pass of the roller. This system was successfully tested in a number of field projects. The CMS was able to show some inconsistencies in the compaction process such as unequal compaction converge across the mat, non-uniform compaction effort and temperature, and delay in compaction after placement of asphalt mixtures. The compaction data are stored for post-processing analysis and evaluation. In addition, the researchers validated a proposed method for predicting the density of asphalt pavements in the field. The results showed good correlation between predicted and measured density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]