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Validation of Thermally Induced Internal Cracking in Asphalt Mixtures using Indirect Tensile Test

Oklu, Joshua
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2352-8372
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1640164870514256

Abstract Details

2022, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Civil Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
As stated in the House Bill 62 Transportation Budget in Brief, roughly 5 billion dollars is spent yearly on road pavement construction in the state of Ohio, with a significant chunk for maintenance. Moreover, maintenance activities and their associated costs are increased in the colder regions of the US where damages and distress on roadways are associated to the Low Temperature Cracking (LTC) phenomena or at least in combination with other distress like rutting and fatigue cracking. Thermally induced internal cracking is a mechanism that occurs under low temperature conditions. Akentuna et al. (2017) postulated that the differential in Coefficient of Thermal Contraction (CTC) values in asphalt binder and aggregate gives rise to thermally induced internal cracking at low temperatures. Owing to its potential significance and effect on LTC modeling, this study investigated the thermally induced thermal cracking phenomena using the Indirect Tensile (IDT) test. The IDT test was selected since it is the test procedure used in fracture property investigation in the AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic Empirical (ME) Design program for low temperature cracking modeling. In addition, a study on the effect of loading rate and temperature on asphalt mixtures during the ITS test was also investigated. Although thermally induced internal cracking was observed by Li et al. (2007) using the acoustic emissions test and Behnia et al. (2014) using the Disc-shaped Compact Test (DCT), its quantified effect has not been studied. The results garnered from this study validated the occurrence of thermally induced internal cracking, evidenced by significant reduction in IDT peak strengths and energy at peak stress to averaged magnitudes of 4% and 12% respectively. The second objective of this study on varying loading rate and temperature during the IDT strength tests proved that the standard test loading rate of 12.5mm/min rate was too fast and not representative of field loading rate. In addition, knowing that LTC could occur even at lower stress compared to the IDT strengths, ‘Creep to fail’ tests were performed to analyze the behavior of mixtures in such circumstances. Results showed that creep loads at extremely lower percentages of IDT strengths still fractured asphalt samples with output parameters offering valuable information on crack behavior under low temperature conditions. Time to fracture and crack speed parameters were shown to decrease 62% and increase 46% in thermally induced internal cracking samples.
Issam Khoury, Dr. (Advisor)
Bhaven Naik, Dr. (Committee Member)
Benjamin Sperry, Dr. (Committee Member)
Eung Lee, Dr. (Committee Member)
139 p.
Civil Engineering
asphalt mixtures; low temperature cracking; indirect tensile test; thermally induced internal cracking; OCD test; ductile-brittle transition; asphalt healing; IDT Creep; MEPDG, AASHTOWare

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Oklu, J. (2022). Validation of Thermally Induced Internal Cracking in Asphalt Mixtures using Indirect Tensile Test [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1640164870514256

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Oklu, Joshua. Validation of Thermally Induced Internal Cracking in Asphalt Mixtures using Indirect Tensile Test. 2022. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1640164870514256.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Oklu, Joshua. "Validation of Thermally Induced Internal Cracking in Asphalt Mixtures using Indirect Tensile Test." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1640164870514256

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1640164870514256
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.