Establishing Percent Embedment Limits to Improve Chip Seal Performance

The extent of embedment of aggregate chips is one of the most significant parameters affecting the performance of chip seals. Excessive or insufficient aggregate embedment may result in severe distresses such as bleeding or aggregate loss in chip seal applications. Hence, having proper limits of the percent embedment of aggregates established as a result of performance-based test measures is of paramount importance for the successful use of such treatments. In a previous project (OR15-508), a procedure (and software named CIPS) was developed to directly calculate the aggregate percent embedment of aggregates into the asphalt binder for a chip seal application based on digital image analysis. This procedure can be used as (i) an acceptance test (or part of an acceptance specification) for Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), (ii) a quality control measure for contractors and MDOT quality assurance, (iii) an objective tool for forensic investigations, and (iv) future conflict resolutions. However, all these potential applications rely heavily on maximum and minimum limits for percent embedment, which should be determined through performance testing of chip seals. The image-based software (CIPS) developed as part of OR15-508 was able to compute the percent embedment using three different methods, namely; (i) peak-valley method, (ii) surface coverage area method and (iii) embedment of each aggregate method. Among these methods, the third method, embedment of each aggregate method was found to be the most robust method delivering the repeatability. The CIPS software can compute percent embedment accurately and objectively; however, the appropriateness of the calculated percent embedment cannot be assessed due to a lack of data relating the percent embedment to chip seal performance. There is a need to link the percent embedment to performance measures such as resistance to bleeding (which can impact surface friction and texture) and chip loss — primarily due to extensive snow plowing that takes place during the winter in Michigan. Furthermore, the effect of aggregate types (e.g., blast furnace slag versus gravel) on the limits of percent embedment needs to be investigated and quantified thoroughly.

• Record URL:
  http://www.chpp.egr.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/UTC-Project-Information-Form_MSU-5.pdf
• 

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $150000
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT13-G-UTC44

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Michigan Department of Transportation

  Murray Van Wagoner Building
  425 West Ottawa, P.O. Box 30050
  Lansing, MI  United States  48909

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Michigan State University - Center for Pavement Preservation

  2857 Jolly Road
  Okemos, Michigan  United States  48864
• Performing Organizations:

  Michigan State University, East Lansing

  Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
  Institute for Community Development
  East Lansing, MI  United States  48824-1226
• Principal Investigators:

  Haider, Syed

  Kutay, M

  Chatti, Karim

• Start Date: 20170401
• Expected Completion Date: 20180915
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Chip seals; Embedment (Building); Image analysis; Pavement performance; Software
• Geographic Terms: Michigan
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01662485
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Pavement Preservation
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC44
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 11 2018 8:58PM