This doctoral thesis consists of a literature review, presented in two papers, and another six papers describing experimental studies of the influence of different kinds of wax and polyphosporic acid on bitumen and asphalt concrete mixture properties. The literature review should give an extensive description of the field of knowledge concerning wax in bitumen. Effects of wax in crude oil, bitumen and asphalt concrete as well as test methods for studying these effects are described. Theories behind possible mechanisms are also discussed, and commercial wax as additive to bitumen for different purposes included. The experimental parts comprise laboratory studies involving totally five 160/220 penetration base bitumens from different sources, two isolated bitumen waxes, five commercial waxes and one polyphosphoric acid. Asphalt concrete slabs, containing base or modified bitumen were prepared and tested. Binder properties were evaluated using different types of laboratory equipment, such as dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), bending beam rheometer (BBR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), force ductilometer, as well as equipment for determining conventional parameters like penetration, softening point, viscosity, and Fraass breaking point. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC-FID) were used for chemical characterization. The binders were aged by means of the rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT) and pressure ageing vessel (PAV) in combination. Asphalt concrete properties were evaluated at low temperatures using the tensile strain restrained specimen test (TSRST) and creep test at -25°C. Dynamic creep testing was performed at 40°C, as well as complex modulus tests between 0 and 20°C. Binder test results indicated that the magnitude and type of effect on bitumen rheology depend on the bitumen itself, type of crystallizing fraction in the bitumen and/or type and amount of additive used. Bitumen composition was found to be of decisive importance. Adding polyethylene wax or polyphosphoric acid, especially to a non-waxy 160/220 penetration grade bitumen, showed no or positive effects on the rheological behaviour at low temperatures (decrease in stiffness) as well as medium and high temperatures (increase in complex modulus and decrease in phase angle). However, the corresponding positive effects could not be shown in dynamic creep testing (at 40°C) of asphalt concrete mixtures containing these modified binders. Adding FT-paraffin decreased the physical hardening index for all bitumens. Also polyethylene wax and montan wax showed this effect for some bitumens. Slack wax showed a large increasing effect on physical hardening, and polyphosphoric acid none or a minor negative effect. No correlation between physical hardening index (PHI) and wax content by DSC was found in this study, involving both natural bitumen wax and commercial wax. Addition of the commercial waxes used showed no or marginally positive influence on bitumen ageing properties for the bitumens and test conditions used. Comparing asphalt mixture test results to the corresponding binder test results, the effects on asphalt mixtures from adding commercial wax or polyphosphoric acid were less evident. Significant binder physical hardening by BBR could not be confirmed by TSRST. / QC 20101006

The diploma thesis is focused on the appropriate dosage of rejuvenating agents in asphalt mixtures with high content of RAP. The empirical and functional laboratory tests are described in the theoretical part. The practical part deals with the estimation of the optimal amount of rejuvenating agents by means of laboratory tests so that the rheological properties of the degraded asphalt binder can be restored by suitable dosing into the RAP. As part of the TAČR ZÉTA project, an experimental section of asphalt mixture containing 50 % of the RAP and an appropriate amount of the rejuvenating agents was created. The aim of the thesis is to find an optimal dosage of the rejuvenating agents in the samples of the RAP and laboratory aged asphalt binder of gradation 50/70, to determine the effectiveness of selected rejuvenating agents and to monitor changes in the parameters of the experimental section during the period of time.

The subject of the thesis is to describe the effect of fluxing additives on the behaviour of asphalt binders. Emphasis will be placed on changes in rheological properties of asphalt binders at intermediate temperatures, stability during aging and influence of fluxing agents on their low-temperature properties. Theoretical part will deal with the principle of asphalt binders aging and it will summarize knowledge about fluxing additives. Further, empirical and functional tests will be described in order to evaluate asphalt binders. In the practical part, all laboratory tests will be evaluated and the effects of two different fluxing additives will be compared.

När byggnader projekteras används klimatfiler från 1981-2010 för att dimensionera konstruktionen och energisystemet. Detta leder till att byggnader dimensioneras för ett klimat som varit och inte ett framtida klimat. SMHI har tagit fram olika klimatscenarier för framtiden som beskriver möjliga utvecklingar klimatet kan ta beroende på fortsatt utsläpp av växthusgaser. Dessa scenarier kallas för RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways). I denna studie används två olika klimatscenarier, RCP4,5 och RCP8,5. Siffran i namnet står för den strålningsdriving som förväntas uppnås år 2100. I RCP4,5 kommer medelårstemperaturen öka med 3 °C fram till år 2100 jämfört med referensperioden 1961-1990.  För samma tidsperiod sker en ökning på 5 °C enligt RCP8,5.  Ett flerbostadshus certifierad enligt Miljöbyggnad 2.2 nivå silver placerat i Vallentuna i Stockholms län används i denna studie som referensbyggnad. Byggnaden simuleras i programmet IDA ICE där den utsätts för RCP4,5 och RCP8,5. Resultatet visar att byggnaden inte skulle klara av kraven för Miljöbyggnad 2.2 gällande termiskt klimat sommar i något av de två klimatscenarierna. De operativa temperaturerna blir för höga i byggnaden utan att tillsätta komfortkyla.  Byggnaden ändras för att se vilka faktorer som kan förbättra resultatet gällande det termiska klimatet. Resultatet visar att värmelagringsförmåga hos byggmaterial och solavskärmning har störst påverkan på det termiska klimatet.  I studien gjordes flertal olika kombinationer av byggnadsutformningar. Enbart kombinationen av en tung stomme av betong tillsammans med fönster med lägre g-värde klarar kraven för Miljöbyggnad 2.2 i RCP4,5 och RCP8,5 utan komfortkyla. Kombinationen får lägst energianvändning i RCP8,5 av de olika kombinationerna som testats i studien.  En kombination av tung stomme av KL-trä med lågt U-värde, fönster med lägre g-värde och komfortkyla får lägst energianvändning i grundklimatet och RCP4,5 av de olika kombinationerna som testats i studien trots användningen av komfortkyla.  Frågan om vilket alternativ som är bäst ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv är svårt att svara på. Det finns många aspekter som behöver tas i hänsyn till som byggnadens totala klimatavtryck både i tillverkning och användning. Oavsett val av konstruktion är det viktigt att projektera för att komfortkyla och solavskärmning skall kunna appliceras när ett varmare klimat råder. / When buildings are designed climate files from 1981 to 2010 are used to construct the building and its energy system. This leads to building being designed to a climate that has been and not to a future warmer climate that will come. SMHI has developed different climate scenarios for the future that describe different paths the climate can take depending on continued emissions of greenhouse gas. This climate scenarios are called RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) In this study two of the climate scenarios, RCP4,5 and RCP8,5 are used. The number in the name stands for the radiation forcing that is expected in the year 2100.  In RCP4,5 the mean average air temperature will increase with 3 °C until year 2100 compared to the reference period 1961-1990. In the same time period RCP8,5 will increase with 5 °C.  An apartment building certified according to Miljöbyggnad 2.2 level silver placed in Vallentuna, Stockholms län is used as a reference building. The building is simulated through the simulation software program IDA ICE where it´s exposed to RCP4,5 and RCP8,5. The results demonstrate that the reference building would not meet Miljöbyggnad 2.2 requirement in the indicator about thermal comfort during summer. The operative temperature in the building is too high unless comfort cooling is used.  The design of the building changes to see what factors can improve the results regarding the thermal comfort. The results demonstrate that thermal conductivity and solar shading has the greatest impact on thermal comfort.  In this study several combinations of different building designs were made. Only the combination of a concrete frame with windows with low g-value met the requirement of Miljöbyggnad 2.2 regarding the thermal comfort during summer without using comfort cooling in RCP4,5 and RCP8,5. The combination had the lowest energy demand in RCP8,5 of all the combinations tested in the study.  A combination of cross laminated wood frame with low U-value, windows with low g-value and comfort cooling had the lowest energy demand in the original climate file and RCP4,5 despite the use of comfort cooling.  The questing about which building construction is the best from a sustainable perspective is difficult to answer. To answer that question the building´s total climate footprint in both production and use must be calculated. Regardless of the choice of building construction it is important to have in mind when designing a building that comfort cooling and solar shading should be easily applied when a warmer climate will prevail.