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Laboratory Investigation of Low-Temperature Performance of Asphalt Mixtures

Akentuna, Moses
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou150607781022331

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Civil Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
Low-temperature cracking is a major pavement distress for asphalt pavements in most northern parts of the United States and other colder regions of the world. Pavements exposed to cold conditions are subjected to thermal stresses which can result in cracking when the induced stresses exceed the tensile strength. Local governments and road agencies spend large sums of money annually to repair defects in pavements caused by low-temperature cracking. Researchers need straightforward and routine test devices to characterize asphalt mixture’s low-temperature performance in the laboratory. These tools are also required to design pavements that can perform satisfactorily in cold temperatures, and for the prediction of frequency and magnitude of cracks developed in asphalt pavements. The low-temperature performance characteristics of asphalt mixtures can be grouped into two broad components. There is the stiffness and thermal contraction component which accounts for the magnitude of strains or stresses induced in the mixture during cooling. The strength or fracture toughness component accounts for the ability of the mixture to resist the induced stresses and to prevent cracking. The main objective of this dissertation was to develop straightforward and routine tests devices for low-temperature characterization that would account for these two components of mixture’s low-temperature performance. The Ohio Coefficient of Thermal Contraction (CTC) device developed as part of this dissertation was shown to produce repeatable test data. Asphalt mixture thermal strains recorded from the CTC device fitted the Bahia-Anderson CTC mathematical model for mixtures with a coefficient of determination (R2) greater than 0.999. Mixture properties such as binder grade, binder content, aging and the inclusion of recycled materials [Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and Recycled Asphalt Shingles (RAS)] resulted in a significant change in the CTC. Asphalt mixtures prepared with two aggregates with a 4.2 µ¿/°C CTC difference, recorded an average CTC difference of up to 2.0 µ¿/°C. The revised version of the Asphalt Concrete Cracking Device (ACCD) was also developed as part of this dissertation for asphalt mixture’s low-temperature performance characterization. The ACCD was shown to produce repeatable test data and could record a temperature difference of 1°C between mixtures. The ACCD, unlike other testing devices in existence, can measure the low-temperature performance of field cores with thicknesses as small as 0.75 inches. (19mm). It was demonstrated that asphalt binder grade, the addition of RAP and RAS, the level of compaction, aggregate/mixture thermal contraction coefficient (CTC), aging, aggregate size, and binder content have a significant influence on the low-temperature performance of asphalt mixtures. This dissertation also demonstrated that coarse and fine aggregates both contribute disproportionately to mixture’s low-temperature performance. Both the ACCD and the CTC device were successfully used to characterize asphalt mixture’s low-temperature performance in the laboratory, accounting for the two components of low-temperature performance.
Kim Sang-Soo, Dr. (Advisor)
Nazzal Munir, Dr. (Committee Member)
M. Sargand Shad, Professor (Committee Member)
Masada Teruhisa , Professor (Committee Member)
Mark McMills, Dr. (Committee Member)
Yu Xiong , Dr. (Committee Member)
197 p.
Civil Engineering; Engineering; Geotechnology
Asphalt Mixture; Asphalt Binder; Low-Temperature Cracking; CTC; Thermal Cracking; Aggregate CTC; Mixture CTC; ACCD; ABCD; OCD; Thermal Coefficient of Contraction; Thermal Stresses; Thermal Stresses; Failure Strains; Coefficient of Expansion

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Akentuna, M. (2017). Laboratory Investigation of Low-Temperature Performance of Asphalt Mixtures [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou150607781022331

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Akentuna, Moses. Laboratory Investigation of Low-Temperature Performance of Asphalt Mixtures. 2017. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou150607781022331.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Akentuna, Moses. "Laboratory Investigation of Low-Temperature Performance of Asphalt Mixtures." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou150607781022331

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou150607781022331
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.