Implementation of a New Silica-Based Composite in the Modification of Asphalt Mixtures: Solving Asphalt Pavement Shortcomings Related to Thermal Cracking and Permanent Deformation

Pavements are strong structures but are subjected to large traffic loading and different environmental conditions. Asphalt pavements face problems related to their physical and mechanical characteristics. One of the biggest challenges that asphalt pavement must overcome is its thermal susceptibility. Thermal susceptibility of the asphalt can result in problems such as permanent deformation at high temperatures, and the expansion-contraction phenomenon trigger the appearance of thermal cracking. A new synthetic porous silica-based material, named “aMBx”, was developed in the Advanced Pavement Laboratory at Arizona State University (ASU). This novel product is used in the modification of bituminous materials to function as a high-performance material with unique thermal resistance properties. The versatility of this product is such that it is possible to use aMBx in different materials applications: asphalt mixtures (hot, warm, or cold applications), asphalt emulsions used in different road surface treatments, asphalt roofing shingles, and asphalt sealants utilized for crack repairs and joints protection. aMBx solves shortcomings of asphalt pavements such as high-temperature deformation and thermal cracking making longer-lasting transportation infrastructures. It palliates the temperature susceptibility and heat conduction of asphalt pavements increasing the Infrastructure Durability and Resilience of the transportation assets and contributing to night-time urban cooling. The objective of this project is to take the work done at the laboratory scale and limited field production to an industry-level production of aMBx, real-scale testing, and full field implementation.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $155903
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552344813

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

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

  National Center for Infrastructure Transformation

  Prairie View A&M University
  Prairie View, TX  United States  77446
• Performing Organizations:

  Arizona State University, Tempe

  Tempe, AZ  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Kaloush, Kamil

  Obando, Carlos

• Start Date: 20230601
• Expected Completion Date: 20250531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
• Source Data: 01-02-ASU

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Deformation; Pavement cracking; Silica; Thermal resistance
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01914003
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Infrastructure Transformation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552344813
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Apr 5 2024 12:15PM