ASSESSMENT OF TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS IN ASPHALT PAVEMENTS DUE TO THERMAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS USING A TWO-DIMENSIONAL TRANSIENT FINITE DIFFERENCE APPROACH

Fluctuation in temperatures significantly affects pavement stability and the selection of asphalt grading to be used in pavements. Ability to accurately predict the asphalt pavement temperature at different depths and horizontal locations based on ambient air temperatures will greatly help pavement engineers in performing back-calculations of pavement modulus values. In addition, it will help engineers in selecting the asphalt grade to be used in various pavement lifts. The top pavement layer normally is exposed to greater temperature fluctuations than the layers below it. Knowledge of the temperature distribution in asphalts will allow for a more sophisticated specification of asphalt for lower lifts (through specification of less expensive asphalt binders in lower lifts) and thus provide an economical solution to rising pavement construction costs. The study will also allow for examination of the variability of predicted pavement temperatures on various pavement materials such as dense and open-graded asphalt.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 109 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00939327
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: MPC Report No. 02-136
  • Files: NTL, TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 5 2003 12:00AM