Evaluation of Asphalt Binder Performance with Laboratory and Field Test Sections

The current performance-grade (PG) specification for asphalt binders was developed 25 years ago. Over the years, many changes have occurred, including crude oil sources, improved refinery technologies to extract more saturates from crude oil before producing asphalt binders, new additives (such as re-refined engine oil bottoms [REOB], polyphosphoric acid [PPA], bio-rejuvenators), and increased use of reclaimed materials. Consequently, asphalt binders with the same PG may perform completely differently, especially in cracking resistance. Researchers evaluated the performance of asphalt binders engineered with various modification techniques including REOB, PPA, aromatic extracts, bio-rejuvenators, and fatty acids. Both rheological and chemical properties of the engineered binders were characterized in the laboratory. It was found that binders produced with same target PG but with different modification techniques can have quite different rheological and embrittlement properties. Specifically, the parameter ΔTc from bending beam rheolometer is a good parameter for asphalt binder quality or embrittlement. The current binder selection catalog should be expanded for different applications, specifically for asphalt overlay mixes. Researchers also surveyed 11 existing field test sections constructed with soft and polymer modified binders and constructed 6 more new test sections around Texas. The plant mixes from these test sections were collected during the construction and then tested in the laboratory for their dynamic modulus, rutting resistance, and cracking resistance. Based on the laboratory test results and field performance data, researchers recommended a new statewide binder selection catalog. The implementation of the recommendation will make pavements last longer as intended.

• Record URL:
  https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6674-01-R1.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=36517
• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/64526
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/64527
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Project Title: Improving Fracture Resistance Measurements in Asphalt Binder Specifications with Verification on Asphalt Mixture Cracking Performance.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office
  125 E 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Karki, Pravat
  • Zhou, Fujie
• Publication Date: 2018-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 102p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous binders; Cracking; Embrittlement; Evaluation and assessment; Field tests; Laboratory tests; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement performance; Polymer asphalt; Recommendations; Rheological properties; Rutting; Test sections
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01686678
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-18/0-6674-01-R1, 0-6674-01-R1
• Contract Numbers: 0-6674-01
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 26 2018 4:50PM