Reducing Low-Temperature Cracking on Local Roads

Traffic volumes on local roads (e.g., counties, townships, municipalities) differ significantly from traffic volumes on state roads (e.g., state routes, interstates). State roads tend to experience significantly higher average daily volumes of truck traffic than local roads. While 50 trucks per day may be considered low truck traffic volume on a rural state road, on a rural local road 50 trucks per year can be a more accurate representation. As a result, the design needs and distress challenges on local roads can differ from state roads. Low-temperature or thermal cracking is one of the main distresses in asphalt pavements with low to medium traffic volumes. This leads to a significant reduction in the service life and performance of these roads. Low-temperature cracking is also a source of reflective cracks in overlays placed on asphalt pavements. The properties of the binder in asphalt mixture significantly affect its resistance to low-temperature cracking. In addition, the aggregate shape, type and properties as well as the coefficient of thermal expansion of the asphalt mixtures plays a major role in the development of low-temperature cracking and control the mixture resistance to this type of cracking. There are a variety of asphalt mixes available to be used on local roads. Local Public Agencies (LPAs) need recommendations for mixture specifications that will help limit the development of low-temperature cracking on local roads. The goal of this research is to identify asphalt mixtures designed for low weather cracking for low volume roads on Ohio's local transportation system. This research will determine changes needed in the specifications of local roads asphalt mixtures and their components (aggregate and binder) to improve the mixtures resistance to low-temperature cracking. This research may lead to modified mixes or new mixes with better low-temperature performance. The results of this research are expected to help LPAs to improve the service life and performance of their roads and reduce their life cycle cost.

• Record URL:
  https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/SPR/Research/reportsandplans/Lists/Final%20Reports%20All/AllItems.aspx?View={7D4D0273-6FC5-48A5-AD17-9CC3A7E83DA0}&FilterField1=State%5fx0020%5fJob%5fx0020%5f%5fx0023%5f&FilterValue1=136524

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $199,199.51
• Contract Numbers:

  37854

  115891

  136524

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  Research Program
  1980 West Broad Street
  Columbus, OH  United States  43223
• Project Managers:

  Fout, Vicky

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Cincinnati

  Civil Engineering Department, P.O. Box 210071, 741 Baldwin Hall
  Cincinnati, OH  United States  45221-0071
• Principal Investigators:

  Nazzal, Munir

• Start Date: 20221024
• Expected Completion Date: 20240624
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Low temperature; Pavement cracking
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01861401
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Ohio Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 37854, 115891, 136524
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 18 2022 3:36PM