Segregation, or non-uniformity, in Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) induces accelerated pavement distress(es) that can reduce a pavement's service life up to 50%. Quality Assurance procedures should detect and quantify the presence of this problem in newly constructed pavements. Current practices are usually based on visual inspections that identify non-uniform surface texture areas. An automatic process that reduces subjectivity would improve the quality-assurance procedures of HMA pavements. Virginia has undertaken a focused research effort to improve the uniformity of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. A method using a dynamic (laser-based) surface macrotexture instrument showed great promise, but it revealed that it may actually miss significant segregated areas because they only measure very thin longitudinal lines. The main objective of this research is to develop a non-contact system for the detection of segregated HMA areas and for the identification of the locations of these areas along a road for HMA quality assurance purposes. The developed system uses relatively low cost components and innovative image processing and analysis software. It computes the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) of images of newly constructed pavements to find various parameters that are commonly used in visual texture analysis. Using principal component analysis to integrate multivariable data into a single classifier, Hotelling's T2 statistic, the system then creates a list of the location of possible nonuniformities that require closer inspection. Field evaluations of the system at the Virginia Smart Road proved that it is capable of discriminating between different pavement surfaces. Verification of the system was conducted through a series of field tests to evaluate the uniformity of newly constructed pavements. A total of 18 continuous road segments of recently paved roads were tested and analyzed with the system. Tables and plots to be used by inspection personnel in the field were developed. The results of these field tests confirmed the capability of the system to detect potential nonuniformities of recently completed pavements. The system proved its potential as a useful tool in the final inspection process. / Ph. D.

The Superpave mix design system is being adopted by most of the states in the Unites States. Since the Superpave system was developed on the basis of data mostly obtained from medium to high traffic volume roads, there is a need to develop criteria for mix design for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixes for low traffic volume roads. In this study funded by the six New England states, research was carried out to develop a proper mix design system for low volume roads from the standpoint of durability properties and then, once a good mix design system was available, check it to determine if it meets required strength properties. For low volume roads the performance is primarily affected by the environment and not by traffic, the approach in this study has been to determine the optimum value of a key volumetric property and an optimum number of design gyrations for producing compacted HMA mixes with adequate resistance against aging/high stiffness related durability problems. Six mixes were obtained in which only one can be characterized as a fine mix, and the remaining five were all relatively close to the maximum density line - three of them were with 9.5 mm Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (NMAS), and the other two were with 12.5 mm NMAS. Based on the results from performance testing, film thickness of 11 microns in samples compacted to 7 percent voids was found to be desirable from considerations of stability and durability and a design VMA of 16 percent was determined to be optimum for producing durable and stable mixes for low volume roads. Results from testing of in-place mixes from good performing 10 to 12 year old low volume roads indicated a design gyration of 50 for obtaining a void content of 4 percent for mixes with gradations close to the maximum density line.

" The determination of strain is an important step when using a mechanistic-empirical structural design, such as the AASHTO 2002 Design Guide. This thesis investigated the use of accelerated pavement testing system on Hot Mix Asphalt pavements to determine actual transverse and longitudinal strains under loads of varying frequency at different temperatures. A Model Mobile Load Simulator (MMLS3) was used in this study. Laboratory compacted pavement slabs were instrumented with thermocouples for monitoring the pavement's temperature, and with strain gauges in transverse and longitudinal directions at the bottom surface to measure strain. The slabs were subjected to loading by the MMLS3, running at different speeds. The pavement slab and accelerated loading equipment were enclosed in an environmental chamber to control temperatures during testing. Strains were also determined from layered elastic analysis after determining modulus values by two different methods - Resilient modulus testing and Witczak’s dynamic modulus equation. Comparisons of pavement strains calculated through the use of layered elastic design software and actual strains obtained during loading were made. The test results have shown a significant difference between strain values obtained using an instrumented pavement slab and those obtained with the use of standard resilient modulus values or dynamic modulus values determined by using a typical layered elastic design model. To avoid the discrepancies, two approaches are proposed - The first is modeling strain with accelerated pavement testing and the second one is using a correction factor. "

The research presented in this thesis: (1) quantifies and qualifies the Surface Free Energy (SFE) of neat and Liquid Anti-Strip (LAS) modified asphalt binders (binder); and (2) identifies volumetric mix properties that inhibit or assist in the susceptibility of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) to moisture damage based on time dependent phenomenological mechanical responses. These two research elements provide insight into the physical, chemical, mechanical and volumetric mix properties that inhibit or facilitate moisture damage in HMA. Moisture damage is a mechanism that causes distress and failure in asphalt concrete (AC) pavements due to a loss of durability resulting from the presence of moisture, in the form of a vapour or liquid, originating internally or externally. This reduces the pavements performance by promoting distresses such as: longitudinal cracking, spalling, rutting, shoving, stripping and ravelling. When moisture originates or is introduced in the AC a weakening of adhesion and cohesion of the material occurs, due in part to: binder properties, aggregate properties, volumetric mix properties, environmental conditions, traffic volume and loads, pavement design and construction practices. The research performed was split in two parts. The first part consisted of conducting SFE measurements on two PG 58-34 binders with different sources. One binder was modified with a LAS agent at concentrations of 0.5%, 2.0% and 5.0% by mass of binder and the other binder was kept neat. The neat and LAS modified binders were subjected to short-term aging by oxidation and then tested with a goniometer to determine their SFE and wettability. The SFE measurements revealed that an LAS concentration of 0.5% maximizes: (1) the work of adhesion of an unaged and aged binder, and (2) the ability of the binder to repel water. Furthermore, the process of aging increases the hydrophobicity or tendency of the binder to repel water regardless of the LAS concentration. Hence, an LAS concentration of 0.5% minimizes the potential for moisture damage in HMA. The second part of the research consisted of investigating the potential for moisture damage of seven bituminous type B (Bit B) and eight bituminous type C (Bit C) mix specified by Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation. Laboratory testing of the resilient modulus and creep compliance was conducted to determine the fundamental mechanical response of the material. The resilient modulus and creep compliance test program were conducted on samples before and after moisture conditioning. As a result of the testing program, it was observed that the susceptibility of AC to moisture damage based on volumetric mix properties can be dependent on the air voids ratio, aggregate gradation and binder content of the mix.

The research presented in this thesis: (1) quantifies and qualifies the Surface Free Energy (SFE) of neat and Liquid Anti-Strip (LAS) modified asphalt binders (binder); and (2) identifies volumetric mix properties that inhibit or assist in the susceptibility of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) to moisture damage based on time dependent phenomenological mechanical responses. These two research elements provide insight into the physical, chemical, mechanical and volumetric mix properties that inhibit or facilitate moisture damage in HMA. Moisture damage is a mechanism that causes distress and failure in asphalt concrete (AC) pavements due to a loss of durability resulting from the presence of moisture, in the form of a vapour or liquid, originating internally or externally. This reduces the pavements performance by promoting distresses such as: longitudinal cracking, spalling, rutting, shoving, stripping and ravelling. When moisture originates or is introduced in the AC a weakening of adhesion and cohesion of the material occurs, due in part to: binder properties, aggregate properties, volumetric mix properties, environmental conditions, traffic volume and loads, pavement design and construction practices. The research performed was split in two parts. The first part consisted of conducting SFE measurements on two PG 58-34 binders with different sources. One binder was modified with a LAS agent at concentrations of 0.5%, 2.0% and 5.0% by mass of binder and the other binder was kept neat. The neat and LAS modified binders were subjected to short-term aging by oxidation and then tested with a goniometer to determine their SFE and wettability. The SFE measurements revealed that an LAS concentration of 0.5% maximizes: (1) the work of adhesion of an unaged and aged binder, and (2) the ability of the binder to repel water. Furthermore, the process of aging increases the hydrophobicity or tendency of the binder to repel water regardless of the LAS concentration. Hence, an LAS concentration of 0.5% minimizes the potential for moisture damage in HMA. The second part of the research consisted of investigating the potential for moisture damage of seven bituminous type B (Bit B) and eight bituminous type C (Bit C) mix specified by Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation. Laboratory testing of the resilient modulus and creep compliance was conducted to determine the fundamental mechanical response of the material. The resilient modulus and creep compliance test program were conducted on samples before and after moisture conditioning. As a result of the testing program, it was observed that the susceptibility of AC to moisture damage based on volumetric mix properties can be dependent on the air voids ratio, aggregate gradation and binder content of the mix.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o módulo de resiliência de misturas asfálticas densas sob duas condições. A primeira foi o estudo dos efeitos do enrijecimento de misturas asfálticas densas em condições ambientais diferentes (cinco condições) que são: AAAL (ao ar e à luz), AASL (ao ar e sem luz), AVAL (baixa pressão atmosférica e à luz), AVSL (baixa pressão atmosférica e sem luz) e CLIMA (ao clima e intempéries), tendo sido utilizados para este experimento CAP 20, centro da faixa C do DNER como distribuição granulométrica e preparados segundo a AASHTO PP2. Neste estudo concluiu-se que não houve efeito significativo da exposição da luz artificial nas condições AL e SL, assim como não houve, também, efeito significativo na variação do módulo de resiliência nas condições de exposição ou não ao ar (AV e AA); nas demais condições houve melhora significativa nos resultados. Na segunda parte foram avaliados os efeitos de alguns fatores na susceptibilidade térmica de misturas asfálticas densas: tipo de agregado (basalto, gabro e granito), tipo de asfalto (CAP 20 e CAP 40), teor de asfalto (5%, 5,5% e 6%), presença de aditivo (com e sem cal) e temperaturas de ensaio (10ºC, 25ºC e 40ºC). Todos os corpos-de-prova foram preparados segundo procedimento da AASHTO PP2. Na segunda parte do experimento, concluiu-se que o CAP 40 produziu valores médios de Vv superiores aos do CAP 20, as misturas com teor de 5,5% apresentaram maior resistência à tração a 25°C, o módulo de resiliência e a relação MR/RT diminuem com o aumento do teor de CAP. / This work intended to evaluate the resilient modulus of dense-graded hot-mix asphalt under two conditions. The first condition comprehends a study of the hardening effects of densegraded hot mix asphalt submitted to five environmental conditions: AAAL (air and artificial light), AASL (air and no artificial light), AVAL (low atmospheric pressure and artificial light), AVSL (low atmospheric pressure and no artificial light) and CLIMA (exposition to intemperism). In this phase, it was used an AC-20 asphalt binder and DNER middle band \"C\" as aggregate\'s particles size distribution. Specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Based on the results of the first part of the experiment, it was concluded that there was no significant effect of the artificial light exposition on AL and SL conditions, as well as on the variation of resilient modulus under air conditions (AV and AA). The other conditions presented better performance results. The second part of the experiment aimed to evaluating the effect of some factors in the thermal susceptibility of dense-graded HMA, that are: aggregate type (basalt, gabbro, granite), asphalt type (AC-20 and AC-40), binder content (5,0%, 5,5% and 6,0%), presence of additive (with or without lime) and test temperature (10ºC, 25ºC and 40ºC). As in the first part of the experiment, all specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Results of the second part of the experiment led to the following conclusions: mixtures using AC-40 showed average air voids higher than mixtures using AC-20, mixtures with a binder content of 5,5% showed the highest values of tensile strength, at 25°C, the resilient modulus and the MR/RT ratio reduce when binder content increases.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o módulo de resiliência de misturas asfálticas densas sob duas condições. A primeira foi o estudo dos efeitos do enrijecimento de misturas asfálticas densas em condições ambientais diferentes (cinco condições) que são: AAAL (ao ar e à luz), AASL (ao ar e sem luz), AVAL (baixa pressão atmosférica e à luz), AVSL (baixa pressão atmosférica e sem luz) e CLIMA (ao clima e intempéries), tendo sido utilizados para este experimento CAP 20, centro da faixa C do DNER como distribuição granulométrica e preparados segundo a AASHTO PP2. Neste estudo concluiu-se que não houve efeito significativo da exposição da luz artificial nas condições AL e SL, assim como não houve, também, efeito significativo na variação do módulo de resiliência nas condições de exposição ou não ao ar (AV e AA); nas demais condições houve melhora significativa nos resultados. Na segunda parte foram avaliados os efeitos de alguns fatores na susceptibilidade térmica de misturas asfálticas densas: tipo de agregado (basalto, gabro e granito), tipo de asfalto (CAP 20 e CAP 40), teor de asfalto (5%, 5,5% e 6%), presença de aditivo (com e sem cal) e temperaturas de ensaio (10ºC, 25ºC e 40ºC). Todos os corpos-de-prova foram preparados segundo procedimento da AASHTO PP2. Na segunda parte do experimento, concluiu-se que o CAP 40 produziu valores médios de Vv superiores aos do CAP 20, as misturas com teor de 5,5% apresentaram maior resistência à tração a 25°C, o módulo de resiliência e a relação MR/RT diminuem com o aumento do teor de CAP. / This work intended to evaluate the resilient modulus of dense-graded hot-mix asphalt under two conditions. The first condition comprehends a study of the hardening effects of densegraded hot mix asphalt submitted to five environmental conditions: AAAL (air and artificial light), AASL (air and no artificial light), AVAL (low atmospheric pressure and artificial light), AVSL (low atmospheric pressure and no artificial light) and CLIMA (exposition to intemperism). In this phase, it was used an AC-20 asphalt binder and DNER middle band \"C\" as aggregate\'s particles size distribution. Specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Based on the results of the first part of the experiment, it was concluded that there was no significant effect of the artificial light exposition on AL and SL conditions, as well as on the variation of resilient modulus under air conditions (AV and AA). The other conditions presented better performance results. The second part of the experiment aimed to evaluating the effect of some factors in the thermal susceptibility of dense-graded HMA, that are: aggregate type (basalt, gabbro, granite), asphalt type (AC-20 and AC-40), binder content (5,0%, 5,5% and 6,0%), presence of additive (with or without lime) and test temperature (10ºC, 25ºC and 40ºC). As in the first part of the experiment, all specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Results of the second part of the experiment led to the following conclusions: mixtures using AC-40 showed average air voids higher than mixtures using AC-20, mixtures with a binder content of 5,5% showed the highest values of tensile strength, at 25°C, the resilient modulus and the MR/RT ratio reduce when binder content increases.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Civil Engineering / Mustaque Hossain / Hot in-place recycling (HIR) preserves distressed asphalt pavements while minimizing use of virgin binder and aggregates. The final quality of an HIR mixture depends on characteristics of the original binder, aging of the pavement surface during service, and whether or not new binder or rejuvenator was added to the mixture. An HIR mixture should maintain desired properties for additional service periods, making asphalt binder modification inevitable. Asphalt binder modifications in HIR are commonly done by adding an asphalt rejuvenating agent (ARA). However, ARA may adversely affect the qualities of new HIR and potentially fail to improve the quality of the final surface. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of rejuvenation on HIR performance characteristics by assessing critical performance indicators such as stiffness, permanent deformation, moisture susceptibility, and cracking resistance. A two-step experimental program was designed that included mechanical property measurements of the HIR mixture and rheological properties of the extracted binder. The level of mixing occurring between new and aged binder with ARA was also investigated. HIR Samples were obtained from three Kansas Department of Transportation projects, and Hamburg wheel-tracking device, dynamic modulus, flow number, Texas overlay, thermal stress restrained specimen, and moisture susceptibility tests were conducted on mixtures with and without ARA. Rheological studies on the extracted binder included dynamic shear rheometer and bending beam rheometer tests. The miscibility of new and aged binder was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), and the exudation droplet test (EDT). Study results showed significant variability in the mechanical performance of HIR mixtures, which was attributed to the variability of binders as observed in EDT, SEM and EDXS studies. Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) showed that HIR is an economic maintenance alternative for asphalt projects in Kansas. LCCA results exhibited that pavement design strategies with HIR activities will result in alternatives with lower net present values when compared to alternatives without HIR maintenance activities.

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Mustaque Hossain / A recent study at Kansas State University has shown that asphalt producers in Kansas are producing hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures with lower asphalt contents than those in the job-mix formula. These drier mixtures are thought to be susceptible to moisture. This project evaluated the effect of asphalt content on rutting and moisture resistance of HMA. Two different mixtures and four varying asphalt contents, optimum and lower, were selected. Another large-size mixture with four varying asphalt contents was also studied. The Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device (HWTD)test (TEX-242-F) and the Kansas Standard Test-56 (KT-56), or modified Lottman test, were used to predict moisture damage and rutting potential of these mixes. All specimens tested were prepared with the Superpave gyratory compacter. Results of this study showed the drier mixtures performed better in rutting and were less susceptible to moisture.Asphalt content significantly affects the number of wheel passes in the HWTD test. The study also revealed a weak correlation between asphalt film thickness and performance test results. Thus, the effect of varying asphalt content is nonconclusive from a durability point of view. However, performance simulations using a theoretical model show that very dry mixes in asphalt pavements are likely to have shorter performance lives.

Master of Science / Civil Engineering / Mustaque A. Hossain / Use of recycled materials in asphalt pavement has become widespread recently due to rising costs of virgin binder and increased attention to sustainability. Historically, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) has been the most commonly used recycled material for hot-mix asphalt (HMA). However, recycled asphalt shingle (RAS), another recycled material, has recently become popular. Although there are some guidelines regarding use of RAP and RAS in HMA, their effects on mixture performance, especially on mixtures containing RAS, are not thoroughly understood. In this research, three recycled Superpave mixture designs from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) with 9.5 mm (SR-9.5A) and 19 mm (SR-19A) Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (NMAS) were selected as control mixtures. Mixtures containing higher percentages of recycled materials (RAP and RAS) were developed using KDOT blending charts. A total of nine mixtures with varying virgin binder contents were designed and assessed for moisture susceptibility, rutting resistance, and fatigue cracking propensity using modified Lottman, Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device, flow number, Dynamic Modulus, and S-VECD direct tension fatigue tests. Results confirmed the effect of NMAS and material source on mixture performance. For SR-9.5A, the mixtures showed increased susceptibility to moisture and rutting damage below virgin binder content of 75%. For SR-19A, mixtures with virgin binder content of 70% showed satisfactory performance properties. Mixtures with virgin binder contents lower than 60% definitely showed inferior performance.