POLYMER MODIFIED ASPHALTS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE HOT MIX PAVEMENT BINDERS (WITH DISCUSSION)

A series of polymer modified asphalts were evaluated as high performance hot mix pavement binders designed to improve resistance to rutting while retaining low temperature flexibility to avoid fatigue cracking. Based on the laboratory evaluations, three modified binders were selected for road tests conducted in cooperation with the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation. Two 3,000-ft (914.4-m) sections were placed in the outside eastbound lane of US 290 near Waller, Texas, about 35 mi (65 km) from Houston. The section was selected because of a previous history of rutting under heavy truck traffic. The paving was performed in two operations, a 2-in. (5-cm) level-up course in April, 1988 followed by a 1.5-in. (3.8-cm) surface course in October. Another section of 3,300 ft (1006 m) of the most heavily trafficked lane of US 90A in Houston, including two intersections was paved in May and August, 1989. All of the asphalts were blended at the Exxon Company USA Baytown Refinery asphalt terminal and were transported to the job site hot mix plants. Transportation, mixing, placement, and compaction were all conducted with the same standard procedures as used for AC-20 asphalt. The Exxon pavement mechanics computer model, Moebius was used to estimate the relative rutting resistance of the AC-20 and the modified binders. Data from the dynamic testing were used to describe the mechanical properties of the pavement along with traffic loading, climate, and existing pavement structure for the actual project conditions. Based on these conditions, the modified binders are expected to withstand more than twice as many axle loads as the control AC-20 to reach a given rut depth. The dynamic creep resistance measurements of the series of modified binders showed that rutting resistance increased with increasing softening point. Other binder properties such as increased viscosity at 60 deg C (140 deg F) and reduced penetration also reflect increased rutting resistance. With the polymers studied there was little effect on low temperature properties or on fatigue cracking. Fraass point (brittle temperature) and low temperature penetration were slightly improved over the control AC-20.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02702932
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)

  400 Selby Avenue, Suite I
  St Paul, MN  United States  55102
• Authors:
  • Nahas, N C
  • Bardet, J
  • Eckmann, B
  • Siano, D B
• Conference:
  • Asphalt Paving Technology 1990
  • Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Date: 1990-2-19 to 1990-2-21
• Publication Date: 1990

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 509-525
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists
  • Volume: 59
  • Publisher: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)
  • ISSN: 0270-2932
  • Serial URL: https://www.asphalttechnology.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=9169&pk_association_webpage=19109

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Computer models; Cracking; Creep; Dynamic tests; Estimating; Hot mix asphalt; Low temperature; Mechanical properties; Pendulum tests; Polymer asphalt; Rutting; Test sections; Viscosity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rut depth
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00750921
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 6 1998 12:00AM