Investigating Impacts of Asphalt Mixture Properties on Pavement Performance using LTPP Data through Random Forests

Many laboratory studies have demonstrated that the properties of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) are vital to its performance. However, very few studies have conducted to identify the critical HMA properties to the pavement performance with field observed data. The present study tackled this issue with data collected from the database of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program through the importance score inherent in the random forests. A total of sixteen variables representing the physical properties of the HMA and the pavement were incorporated, including the aggregate gradation, mixture volumetric parameters such as bulk specific gravity and air voids, asphalt binder properties such as viscosity and content, and the age and thickness of the pavement. The pavement performance was represented by three types of cracking (alligator cracking, wheel path longitudinal cracking, and transverse cracking), rutting, and roughness. The results showed that the gradation of aggregates had a close association with the alligator cracking; the viscosity and stiffness of asphalt binder were strongly correlated with the longitudinal cracking; the density and indirect tensile (IDT) strength of the mixture significantly affected the transverse cracking. The air voids and binder stiffness played a critical role in the rutting performance. The percentage passing the No. 200 sieve was found a determinant of the evolution of the IRI.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFK10 Standing Committee on Critical Issues and Emerging Technologies in Asphalt.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Gong, Hongren
  • Sun, Yiren
  • Hu, Wei
  • Huang, Baoshan
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2019-1-13 to 2019-1-17
• Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 5p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Data analysis; Hot mix asphalt; Pavement performance; Physical properties
• Identifier Terms: Long-Term Pavement Performance Program
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01697371
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 19-05712
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 1 2019 3:50PM