Electrically conductive asphalt composites have immense potential for various multifunctional applications such as self-healing, self-sensing, snow and ice removal, and energy harvesting, and controlling asphalt conductivity is the first step to enable such applications. Previous investigators have used conductive fibers as major conductive additive for asphalt composites, and the sudden transition from the insulated phase to the conductive phase, known as the percolation threshold, is commonly observed. Since the percolation threshold hinders precise control of asphalt conductivity, it is imperative to mitigate the sudden transition in the electrical resistivity curve to enable practical applications of asphalt composites. Some recent publications showed the potential of graphite in mitigating the sudden transition. The study presented herein investigates possibility of precisely controlling the electrical conductivity of asphalt concrete only by adding filler size graphite powder. Nine different types of graphite having different particle shapes and sizes are selected to investigate their effect on conductivity control. The volume resistivity of the asphalt mastic specimens containing various concentrations of graphite is evaluated. In addition, scanning electron microscope analysis is conducted for the graphite particles to provide physical explanation for their different effects on imparting conductivity. The results show that the electrical resistivity of asphalt mastic is significantly varied with the types of graphite. The mastics containing natural flake graphite show gradual decrease in volume resistivity as the graphite content increases, and sufficiently low resistivity can be obtained in the specimens with natural flake graphite. On the other hand, amorphous graphite is not efficient in reducing volume resistivity. Graphite with high surface area presents difficulty in mixing. In the next stage of research, two best performing graphite out of the nine different types are selected to be added to asphalt concrete, and the effect of aggregates on electrical resistivity is examined. It is found that flake graphite 516 provides good electrical conductivity along with improved mechanical performance of asphalt concrete. Thus the study provides fundamental information on the selection of graphite type and amount to achieve proper electrical conductivity required for multifunctional applications.

Hot mix asphalt pavements require adequate compaction to achieve the required density to resist rutting. The amount of energy required to achieve the optimum degree of compaction depends on the type of gradation, bitumen content, filler type and shape, type of compaction equipment etc. In this study, the net energy required to reduce the specimen volume (size) after each gyration of the superpave gyratory compactor is used as the compaction energy index (CEI) to measure the compactability of the samples. Samples with different filler types and content are used for the analysis. Effect of fillers on the viscosity of the mastic has been studied previously. Viscosity of mastics in return affects the compactability of the mix in general. In this regard this paper tries to study the effect of fillers on the compaction of hot mix asphalt with the help of the superpave gyratory compactor. Moreover, resistance of the asphalt mix samples against rutting is evaluated using the simple performance test. In this test, the sample is subjected to a hydraulic loading while strain transducers attached to the sample measure the displacement. A computer program receives the displacement data at various frequencies and calculates the dynamic modulus and flow number which are used for the evaluation of the pavement performance.     :

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo contribuir para o melhor entendimento dos efeitos do fíler mineral sobre o comportamento mecânico de misturas asfálticas densas, particularmente em relação ao tipo e teor de fíler. O comportamento mecânico de misturas asfálticas densas foi avaliado em função do tipo e teor de fíler (diferentes propriedades físicas, geométricas, mineralógica e comportamento físico-químico), do tipo de agregado (diferentes origens mineralógicas) e do tipo de ligante asfáltico (diferentes consistências). Para alcançar o objetivo geral, a pesquisa foi dividida em três partes: o estudo da mistura asfáltica completa, através de ensaios mecânicos; o estudo do mástique, resultante da mistura de fíler com ligante asfáltico, através dos ensaios comumente aplicados aos ligantes asfálticos puros; e o estudo do comportamento de trincamento dos mástiques nas temperaturas intermediárias, através das características de energia fratura. A análise de variância dos resultados auxiliou na identificação dos fatores com influência significativa nas propriedades apresentadas pelas misturas e mástiques asfálticos. Quanto aos resultados de vida de fadiga, as misturas asfálticas compostas com cal hidratada apresentaram as maiores vidas de fadiga e quanto maior o teor de fíler, maior a vida de fadiga. Em relação à deformação permanente, as misturas asfálticas contendo o menor teor de fíler apresentam os menores valores de deformação não recuperável, enquanto que as misturas contendo o valor intermediário de fíler apresentam os maiores valores. As propriedades reológicas dos mástiques mostraram que a adição de fíler torna o ligante asfáltico mais rígido e a cal hidratada é o fíler que provoca o maior aumento do valor do G*. A elasticidade do mástique aumenta com a adição dos fileres e é mais expressivo para os mástiques compostos pelo fíler de cal hidratada e cimento Portland. Quanto maior o teor de fíler utilizado, maior a temperatura correspondente a G*/sen \'delta\' \'> ou =\' 1,0 kPa da especificação Superpave, o que pode se refletir em misturas asfálticas com maior resistência à deformação permanente. Nas propriedades a baixa temperatura, a utilização de maiores teores de fíler prejudicam a resposta ao trincamento a baixas temperaturas e diminuem a eficiência na dissipação das tensões formadas durante a contração do ligante asfáltico, quando a temperatura do pavimento cai abruptamente, aumentando a formação de trincas e fissuras. Analisando os resultados da energia de fratura, a adição de fíler no mástique diminui a resistência ao trincamento por fadiga nas temperaturas intermediárias, porém a presença de fíler na mistura durante o envelhecimento torna seus efeitos menos prejudiciais. / The objective of this research is to contribute to the better understanding of mineral filler effects on the mechanical behavior of hot mix asphalt (HMA), particularly related to the filler type and content. The hot mix asphalt mechanical behavior was evaluated according to: the filler type and content (different physical, geometrical, mineralogical properties, and the physical-chemical behavior); the aggregate type (different mineralogical source); and the asphalt binder type (different consistency). To reach the global objective, the research was divided in three parts: the study of the complete HMA, through the mechanical tests; the study of the mastic, resulting from mixture of mineral filler and asphalt binder, through tests commonly applied to pure asphalt binder; and the study of cracking performance behavior at intermediate temperature, through the fracture energy characteristics. The analysis of variance of the results assisted to identify the factors with significant influence in properties of the hot mix and mastic asphalt. Regarding the results of the fatigue life, the HMA composed with the hydrated lime presented the longer fatigue life and the higher the filler content the longer the fatigue life. Related to the permanent deformation, the HMA containing the lowest content of filler presented the lowest non-recoverable strain, while the HMA containing an intermediate value of filler presented the highest values. The mastics rheological properties showed that addition of filler makes the asphalt binder stiffer, and the hydrated lime causes the greatest increase of G*. The mastic elasticity increases with the filler, and its more notorious when the mastic is composed by the hydrated lime and Portland cement. The higher the filler content, the higher the temperature corresponding to G*/sen \'delta\' \'> ou =\' 1,0 kPa of the Superpave specification, which may be reflected in HMA with higher permanent deformation resistance. At low temperature properties, the use of higher filler content prejudice the low temperatures cracking response, and decrease the efficiency of stress dissipation formed during contraction of the asphalt binder when the pavement temperature drops abruptly, increasing the formation of cracks and fissures. Analyzing the energy fracture results, adding filler to the mastic decrease the cracking resistance by fatigue at intermediate temperature, but the filler presence in the mixture during aging makes the effect less damaging.

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo contribuir para o melhor entendimento dos efeitos do fíler mineral sobre o comportamento mecânico de misturas asfálticas densas, particularmente em relação ao tipo e teor de fíler. O comportamento mecânico de misturas asfálticas densas foi avaliado em função do tipo e teor de fíler (diferentes propriedades físicas, geométricas, mineralógica e comportamento físico-químico), do tipo de agregado (diferentes origens mineralógicas) e do tipo de ligante asfáltico (diferentes consistências). Para alcançar o objetivo geral, a pesquisa foi dividida em três partes: o estudo da mistura asfáltica completa, através de ensaios mecânicos; o estudo do mástique, resultante da mistura de fíler com ligante asfáltico, através dos ensaios comumente aplicados aos ligantes asfálticos puros; e o estudo do comportamento de trincamento dos mástiques nas temperaturas intermediárias, através das características de energia fratura. A análise de variância dos resultados auxiliou na identificação dos fatores com influência significativa nas propriedades apresentadas pelas misturas e mástiques asfálticos. Quanto aos resultados de vida de fadiga, as misturas asfálticas compostas com cal hidratada apresentaram as maiores vidas de fadiga e quanto maior o teor de fíler, maior a vida de fadiga. Em relação à deformação permanente, as misturas asfálticas contendo o menor teor de fíler apresentam os menores valores de deformação não recuperável, enquanto que as misturas contendo o valor intermediário de fíler apresentam os maiores valores. As propriedades reológicas dos mástiques mostraram que a adição de fíler torna o ligante asfáltico mais rígido e a cal hidratada é o fíler que provoca o maior aumento do valor do G*. A elasticidade do mástique aumenta com a adição dos fileres e é mais expressivo para os mástiques compostos pelo fíler de cal hidratada e cimento Portland. Quanto maior o teor de fíler utilizado, maior a temperatura correspondente a G*/sen \'delta\' \'> ou =\' 1,0 kPa da especificação Superpave, o que pode se refletir em misturas asfálticas com maior resistência à deformação permanente. Nas propriedades a baixa temperatura, a utilização de maiores teores de fíler prejudicam a resposta ao trincamento a baixas temperaturas e diminuem a eficiência na dissipação das tensões formadas durante a contração do ligante asfáltico, quando a temperatura do pavimento cai abruptamente, aumentando a formação de trincas e fissuras. Analisando os resultados da energia de fratura, a adição de fíler no mástique diminui a resistência ao trincamento por fadiga nas temperaturas intermediárias, porém a presença de fíler na mistura durante o envelhecimento torna seus efeitos menos prejudiciais. / The objective of this research is to contribute to the better understanding of mineral filler effects on the mechanical behavior of hot mix asphalt (HMA), particularly related to the filler type and content. The hot mix asphalt mechanical behavior was evaluated according to: the filler type and content (different physical, geometrical, mineralogical properties, and the physical-chemical behavior); the aggregate type (different mineralogical source); and the asphalt binder type (different consistency). To reach the global objective, the research was divided in three parts: the study of the complete HMA, through the mechanical tests; the study of the mastic, resulting from mixture of mineral filler and asphalt binder, through tests commonly applied to pure asphalt binder; and the study of cracking performance behavior at intermediate temperature, through the fracture energy characteristics. The analysis of variance of the results assisted to identify the factors with significant influence in properties of the hot mix and mastic asphalt. Regarding the results of the fatigue life, the HMA composed with the hydrated lime presented the longer fatigue life and the higher the filler content the longer the fatigue life. Related to the permanent deformation, the HMA containing the lowest content of filler presented the lowest non-recoverable strain, while the HMA containing an intermediate value of filler presented the highest values. The mastics rheological properties showed that addition of filler makes the asphalt binder stiffer, and the hydrated lime causes the greatest increase of G*. The mastic elasticity increases with the filler, and its more notorious when the mastic is composed by the hydrated lime and Portland cement. The higher the filler content, the higher the temperature corresponding to G*/sen \'delta\' \'> ou =\' 1,0 kPa of the Superpave specification, which may be reflected in HMA with higher permanent deformation resistance. At low temperature properties, the use of higher filler content prejudice the low temperatures cracking response, and decrease the efficiency of stress dissipation formed during contraction of the asphalt binder when the pavement temperature drops abruptly, increasing the formation of cracks and fissures. Analyzing the energy fracture results, adding filler to the mastic decrease the cracking resistance by fatigue at intermediate temperature, but the filler presence in the mixture during aging makes the effect less damaging.