This study investigated the influence of material properties on fatigue life through laboratory fatigue testing of eleven Superpave hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures in use at the Virginia Smart Road. Mixtures were sampled from the plant and produced in the laboratory to investigate the influence of production method. Specimens were cut from the in-situ pavement and compacted in the laboratory to evaluate the influence of compaction method. Third point beam fatigue testing was performed at 25ºC and 10Hz. Additional testing at frequencies of 1 Hz and 5Hz, and at 10 Hz including rest periods of 0.4sec and 0.9sec were performed for one mixture to explore the impact of frequency and rest periods. Analyses were performed on the strain-life relationships and predicted endurance strain limits for the mixtures. Investigation of strain-life relationships for several mixtures indicated that small differences in mixture volumetrics due to the production method have minimal impact on the laboratory fatigue performance of HMA. Comparisons of expected fatigue performance for one mixture indicated that shorter fatigue lives (under the same strain conditions) may be expected for laboratory-compacted specimens when compared to field-compacted specimens, despite visual observation of damage (surface cracking) in the field-compacted specimens. Testing performed on one mixture to determine the influence of different loading frequencies showed that fatigue life was independent of the requencies tested. Investigation of rest period inclusion indicated no differences in fatigue life for loading conducted at 10 Hz frequency and no rest period, 0.4sec rest period, or 0.9sec rest period. The evaluation of specimens cut from the in-situ pavement indicated that location within the lane and orientation did not significantly affect laboratory fatigue performance. The effect of aggregate size was considered; however, results were inconclusive. Using predictive strain-life fatigue equations, the benefits of polymer-modification of binders and use of SMA were shown for mixtures produced in the laboratory according to the job mix formula and to match the plant-produced volumetrics. Evaluation of the predicted fatigue strain endurance limit was performed using an energy-based and an empirical method. The energy method was shown to estimate significantly higher endurance limit strains for mixtures. / Ph. D.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.116-119).

A produção de um ligante modificado com a borracha de pneus usados tem-se tornado viável em virtude do aumento da rigidez a temperaturas elevadas e da flexibilidade a baixas temperaturas que ele proporciona no revestimento dos pavimentos flexíveis, contribuindo para amenizar dois dos principais defeitos que afetam este tipo de pavimento, a saber, a deformação permanente nas trilhas de roda e as trincas por fadiga. Em acréscimo, consegue-se diminuir a quantidade de pneus dispostos em aterros sanitários, disponibilizando espaço e evitando problemas ambientais e de saúde pública, pois o acúmulo de pneus facilita a procriação de insetos e de outros vetores de doenças. Utilizando-se ensaios tradicionais e ensaios do método Superpave, neste trabalho são analisados os efeitos dos principais fatores que condicionam o comportamento do ligante asfalto-borracha (teor granulometria das partículas de borracha, tempo e temperatura de mistura, mantida constante em 155ºC) e as alterações nas propriedades físicas do ligante asfalto-borracha durante o tempo de armazenamento. / The production of a modified binder with used tire has become possible because of the increase in the stiffness at high temperature and the flexibility at low temperature that it brings to the surface layers of flexible pavements. The asphalt-rubber binders help to prevent two of the most important problems that affect flexible pavements, that is, the permanent deformation in the wheel tracks and fatigue cracking. In addition, it is possible to reduce the amount of tires disposed in sanitary landfills, increasing the service-life and avoiding environmental and health problems. Using traditional tests and tests of the Superpave method, this study analyses the effects of the main factors that affects the behavior of the asphalt-rubber binder (content and gradation of rubber particles, reaction temperature fixed in 155ºC and time) and the changes in the physical properties of asphalt-rubber binder during the storage time.

A produção de um ligante modificado com a borracha de pneus usados tem-se tornado viável em virtude do aumento da rigidez a temperaturas elevadas e da flexibilidade a baixas temperaturas que ele proporciona no revestimento dos pavimentos flexíveis, contribuindo para amenizar dois dos principais defeitos que afetam este tipo de pavimento, a saber, a deformação permanente nas trilhas de roda e as trincas por fadiga. Em acréscimo, consegue-se diminuir a quantidade de pneus dispostos em aterros sanitários, disponibilizando espaço e evitando problemas ambientais e de saúde pública, pois o acúmulo de pneus facilita a procriação de insetos e de outros vetores de doenças. Utilizando-se ensaios tradicionais e ensaios do método Superpave, neste trabalho são analisados os efeitos dos principais fatores que condicionam o comportamento do ligante asfalto-borracha (teor granulometria das partículas de borracha, tempo e temperatura de mistura, mantida constante em 155ºC) e as alterações nas propriedades físicas do ligante asfalto-borracha durante o tempo de armazenamento. / The production of a modified binder with used tire has become possible because of the increase in the stiffness at high temperature and the flexibility at low temperature that it brings to the surface layers of flexible pavements. The asphalt-rubber binders help to prevent two of the most important problems that affect flexible pavements, that is, the permanent deformation in the wheel tracks and fatigue cracking. In addition, it is possible to reduce the amount of tires disposed in sanitary landfills, increasing the service-life and avoiding environmental and health problems. Using traditional tests and tests of the Superpave method, this study analyses the effects of the main factors that affects the behavior of the asphalt-rubber binder (content and gradation of rubber particles, reaction temperature fixed in 155ºC and time) and the changes in the physical properties of asphalt-rubber binder during the storage time.

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Civil. Vias de Comunicação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2011

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (ℓ. 114-117)

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.183-191).

abstract: The objective of the research is to test the use of 3D printed thermoplastic to produce fixtures which affix instrumentation to asphalt concrete samples used for Simple Performance Testing (SPT). The testing is done as part of materials characterization to obtain properties that will help in future pavement designs. Currently, these fixtures (mounting studs) are made of expensive brass and cumbersome to clean with or without chemicals. Three types of thermoplastics were utilized to assess the effect of temperature and applied stress on the performance of the 3D printed studs. Asphalt concrete samples fitted with thermoplastic studs were tested according to AASHTO & ASTM standards. The thermoplastics tested are: Polylactic acid (PLA), the most common 3D printing material; Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), a typical 3D printing material which is less rigid than PLA and has a higher melting temperature; Polycarbonate (PC), a strong, high temperature 3D printing material. A high traffic volume Marshal mix design from the City of Phoenix was obtained and adapted to a Superpave mix design methodology. The mix design is dense-graded with nominal maximum aggregate size of ¾” inch and a PG 70-10 binder. Samples were fabricated and the following tests were performed: Dynamic Modulus |E*| conducted at five temperatures and six frequencies; Flow Number conducted at a high temperature of 50°C, and axial cyclic fatigue test at a moderate temperature of 18°C. The results from SPT for each 3D printed material were compared to results using brass mounting studs. Validation or rejection of the concept was determined from statistical analysis on the mean and variance of collected SPT test data. The concept of using 3D printed thermoplastic for mounting stud fabrication is a promising option; however, the concept should be verified with more extensive research using a variety of asphalt mixes and operators to ensure no bias in the repeatability and reproducibility of test results. The Polycarbonate (PC) had a stronger layer bonding than ABS and PLA while printing. It was recommended for follow up studies. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2018

Asphalt concrete pavements on commercial airports in the United States are constructed according to the Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150/5370-10B, Item P-401, “Plant Mix Bituminous Pavements.” This specification does not provide guidance for using the Superpave gyratory compactor in the design of asphalt mixtures. This thesis describes a laboratory study of hot mix asphalt (HMA) mix design for airport pavements that uses the Superpave gyratory compactor. These recommendations are based on comparisons of volumetric property measurements of HMA mixtures compacted using Marshall compaction and Superpave gyratory compaction.

Este trabalho apresenta estudo sobre a viabilidade técnica da incorporação de borracha de pneus em ligantes asfálticos utilizados em obras de pavimentação. Trata-se de uma alternativa para solucionar um grave problema ambiental, pois no Brasil, anualmente, são descartados mais de 30 milhões de pneus, dos quais a maior parte é disposta em locais inadequados, servindo para a procriação de vetores de doenças e representando risco de contaminação do meio-ambiente. Os efeitos dos principais fatores que condicionam o comportamento do ligante asfalto-borracha (teor e granulometria da borracha, temperatura de mistura, tempo de reação) são avaliados através de ensaios tradicionais de caracterização de ligantes asfálticos e também ensaios do Método Superpave, que determinam propriedades fundamentais, diretamente relacionadas ao desempenho dos pavimentos no campo. Os resultados da análise estatística da programação fatorial de ensaios laboratoriais desenvolvida evidenciam o efeito preponderante do teor de borracha e, principalmente, que o ligante asfalto-borracha pode aumentar a resistência ao acúmulo de deformação permanente e ao aparecimento de trincas por fadiga do revestimento. / This work presents the results of a study about the technical feasibility of the use of asphalt-rubber binder by the asphalt paving industry. In Brazil, more than 30 million tires a year are disposed, mostly in inadequate sites, causing serious health and environmental problems. The effects of the main factors (rubber content, rubber particle size, temperature of mixture, reaction time) on the behavior of asphalt-rubber binders are evaluated by traditional tests and also by tests of the Superpave Method, which are based on fundamental properties, directly related to field performance. The results of the statistical analysis of the factorial design of laboratory experiments show the most significant effect of rubber content and, mainly, that asphalt-rubber binder can increase the resistance to permanent deformation and fatigue cracking.