Effect of Asphalt Binder Source on Asphalt Mixture Performance
Recent research has shown that transportation agencies are increasingly experiencing premature failures of some of their asphalt mixtures that did not fail previously. Some reasons that might attribute to these failures include: variability in the source of the base binder used to produce the mixture, switching to a different binder supplier during production as compared to the mixture design phase, and suppliers using different modifiers and/or additives with a base binder to meet the target Performance Grade. Hence, research is needed to evaluate if the quality of the asphalt binders used during the entire production process, regardless of the binder source or type of modification, will provide the targeted mixture performance. The main objective is to assess the implications of changes in asphalt binder formulation and source during mix design and production. The following research objectives were established: (1) determine which binder properties display significant variations between different production lots and sources; (2) determine which changes in binder properties alter a mixture’s laboratory performance; (3) perform life cycle cost analysis; (4) establish specifications for allowable binder property tolerances'; and (5) provide a roadmap for MassDOT to update their asphalt pavement specifications to incorporate new binder testing protocols for both mix design approval and construction.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $400000
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Contract Numbers:
121136
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Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Infrastructure
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA United States 02116 -
Performing Organizations:
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA United States 02747 -
Principal Investigators:
Mogawer, Walaa
- Start Date: 20230202
- Expected Completion Date: 20250930
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Bituminous binders; Mix design; Pavement performance; Specifications
- Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01884850
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Massachusetts Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 121136
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Jun 12 2023 4:20PM