Evaluation of Warm Mix Asphalt Technology for Urban Pavement Rehabilitation Projects

In northern climate, asphalt paving season is relatively short, and paving is often done late in the season when weather conditions are less than ideal. Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology has the capability of lowering the temperature at which the asphalt is mixed and compacted by 30°C or more without compromising the performance of asphalt pavement. The reduced difference between asphalt mix and ambient temperature results to a lower cooling rate thus allowing long haul, sufficient compaction time and late season projects compared to the conventional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). This potential benefit means, among others, an extended paving season for the City of Winnipeg. Reduction in production temperature also generates other positive impacts both economically and environmentally. The objective of this study is to evaluate the installation of WMA to compile experiences with this technology and evaluate their effects on construction methods and performance. The study further attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of the WMA chemical additives and its dosage rate as liquid anti-strip agents on the properties of WMA mixtures through field and laboratory testing program. In addition to the overall effectiveness of WMA, the study aimed to evaluate its economic cost relative to Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Three WMA mixtures using three different chemical additive dosages (0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 percent by weight of asphalt cement) were tested. Among the different additive dosage used, the 0.5% had a better overall performance. The moisture sensitivity tests indicated the highest Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) at this dosage, suggesting the lowest moisture damage susceptibility. The study also showed that WMA can be successfully placed using conventional HMA paving practices and procedures. The WMA price was between 2% to 11% higher than conventional HMA including the costs of additional testing as well as the WMA additives. It is expected that in future large paving contracts, the cost of WMA will decrease when the contracts do not include the additional testing and contractors realize the financial benefit of reduced energy consumption in the production of WMA.

• Record URL:
  https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/default/files/conf_papers/materus-evaluation_of_warm_mix_asphalt_technology_for_urban_pavement_rehabilitation_projects-version_2.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

  401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • Materu, S
  • Shalaby, A
  • Ghazy, A
  • Kibbins, B
• Conference:
  • Transportation Association of Canada and ITS Canada 2019 Joint Conference and Exhibition
• Publication Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 1 PDF file, 1.5 MB, 13p.
• Monograph Title: Transportation Association of Canada and ITS Canada 2019 Joint Conference and Exhibition

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Admixtures; Bituminous mixtures; Conferences; Durability; Moisture content; Warm mix paving mixtures
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ITRD Terms: 4736: Admixture; 4967: Bituminous mixture; 8018: Canada; 8525: Conference; 5910: Durability; 5920: Moisture content; 4998: Warm mix asphalt
• Subject Areas: I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01730376
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TAC
• Created Date: Feb 4 2020 2:59PM