Optimizing of MassDOT’s High Performance Asphalt Overlay (HPOL) Mixtures

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS) program presents innovative overlay solutions for asphalt and concrete pavements. The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of three TOPS types for asphalt pavements (Asphalt Rubber Gap-Graded, Stone Matrix Asphalt, and High-Performance thin overlay) in terms of performance, how they extend pavement service life, and whether they can be used interchangeably. Asphalt binders from two sources were used in each of these three TOPS types, providing six TOPS mixtures. All TOPS passed the mixture performance tests where the test had a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) specified or a preliminary criterion, and the test results indicated that all three TOPS types can be used interchangeably. All six TOPS mixtures met MassDOT’s pilot specification criteria for rutting, moisture damage, and intermediate-temperature cracking. They also passed the established mixture performance tests for reflective cracking and raveling. AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED) predictive models for bottom-up fatigue cracking indicated that 2 in. of a TOPS mixture placed on an existing in-service pavement can extend pavement service life between 11.2 and 14 years, depending on the type of TOPS and source of binder. The maximum difference in service life between the six TOPS was slightly less than 3 years, although most of them were within 2 years of each other. None of the three TOPS types could be chosen as the best TOPS.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.mass.gov/doc/high-performance-asphalt-overlay-hpol-mixtures/download
• Summary URL:
  • https://www.mass.gov/doc/optimizing-of-massdots-high-performance-asphalt-overlay-hpol-mixtures-research-summary/download
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/73042
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth

  Highway Sustainability Research Center, 151 Martine Street
  Fall River, MA  United States  02723

  Massachusetts Department of Transportation

  Office of Transportation Planning
  Boston, MA  United States 

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mogawer, Walaa S
  • Austerman, Alexander J
  • Stuart, Kevin D
  • Abdalfattah, Ibrahim M
• Publication Date: 2023-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 64p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Asphalt pavements; Cracking; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement performance; Rutting; Service life
• Identifier Terms: Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01904430
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 23-044
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 11 2024 1:31PM