ASPHALT
GROUP 8 A
ASPHALT
is one of the oldest materials used in construction.
Asphalt binders were used in 3000B.C.,preceding the
use of the wheel by 1000 years. Before the mid-1850s,
asphalt came from natural pools found in various
locations throughout the world, such as the Trinidad
Lake asphalt, which is still mined.
TYPES OF ASPHALT PRODUCTS
Asphalt used in pavements is produced in three
forms:
Asphalt Cement ASPHALT CUTBACK ASPHALT EMULSION
It is produced by dissolving
It is a blend of hydrocarbons asphalt cement in a lighter In this process the asphalt
of different molecular cement is physically broken
molecular weight hydrocarbon down into micron-sized globules
weights. The characteristics solvent. When the cutback is that are mixed into water
of the asphalt depend on the sprayed on a pavement or containing an emulsifying agent.
chemical composition and the Emulsifi ed asphalts typically
mixed with aggregates, the
distribution of the molecular consist of about 60% to 70%
solvent evaporates, leaving the asphalt cement, 30% to 40%
weight hydrocarbons.
asphalt residue as the binder. water, and a fraction of a
percent of emulsifying agent.
USES OF ASPHALT
01 The main use of asphalt is in pavement construction and maintenance. In
addition,asphalt is used in sealing and waterproofi ng various structural
components, such as roofs and underground foundations.
02 The selection of the type and grade of asphalt depends on the type of
construc-tion and the climate of the area. Asphalt cements, also called
asphalt binders, are used typically to make hot-mix asphalt concrete for
the surface layer of asphalt pavements
03 Asphalt concrete is also used in patching and repairing both asphalt
and portland cement concrete pavements. Liquid asphalts(emulsions
and cutbacks) are used for pavement maintenance applications, such as
fog seals, chip seals, slurry seals, and microsurfacing
EXAMPLES
PICTURES:
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF
ASPHALT
Asphalt is a mixture of a wide variety of hydrocarbons primarily consisting of hydrogen and carbon atoms, with minor
components such as sulfur, nitrogen, andoxygen (heteroatoms), and trace metals.
Asphalt molecules have three Asphalt cement consists
arrangements, depending on the carbon of: The asphaltenes are dark brown, friable solids
Asphaltenes that are chemically complex, with the highest
atom links:
polarity among the components.
Aliphatic or Paraffinic
Saturated Rings The maltenes consist of resins and oils.
Resins are dark and semisolid or solid, with a viscosity that
Maltenes (petrolenes). is largely affected by temperature. The resins act as
Unsaturated Ring or Aromatic. agents to disperse asphaltenes in the oils; the oils are
clear or white liquids.
Performance Grade Binder Characterization
Several tests are used in the Performance Grade method to
characterize the asphalt binder. Some of these tests have
been used before for asphalt testing, while others are new.
The discussion that follows summarizes the main steps and
the significance of SHRP tests.
Rolling Thin-Film
Oven
- The rolling thin-film oven (RTFO) procedure is used to
simulate the short-term aging that occurs in the asphalt
during production of asphalt concrete.
- In the RTFO method (ASTM D2872), the asphalt binder
is poured into special bottles. The bottles are placed in a
rack in a forced-draft oven, at a temperature of 163°C
(325°F) for 75 min. The rack rotates vertically,
continuously exposing fresh asphalt.
Pressure-Aging Vessel
-The pressure-aging vessel (PAV) consists of a
temperature-controlled chamber, and pressure
and temperature-controlling and measuring
devices. The asphalt binder is first aged,using the
RTFO (ASTM D2872). A specified thickness of
residue from the RTFO is placed in the PAV pans.
The asphalt is then aged at the specified aging
temperature for 20 hours in a vessel under 2.10
MPa (305 psi) of air pressure.
Flash Point
-At high temperatures, asphalt can flash or ignite in the presence of
open flame or spark. The flash point test is a safety test that measures
the temperature at which the asphalt flashes; asphalt cement may be
heated to a temperature below this without becoming a fire hazard.
Rotational
Viscometer Test
- The rotational viscometer test consists of a rotational coaxial
cylinder viscometer and a temperature control unit. The test is
performed on unaged binders. Theasphalt binder sample is placed
in the sample chamber at 135°C (275°F); then both are placed in
the thermacell.
Dynamic Shear
Rheometer Test
-The dynamic shear rheometer test system consists of two
parallel metal plates, an environmental chamber, a loading
device, and a control and data acquisition system (AASHTO
T315). The Dynamic shear rheometer is used to measure three
specification requirements in the Performance Grading system.
For testing the neat binder and for the rutting potential test,
the test temperature is equal to the upper temperature for the
grade of the asphalt binder (e.g., a PG 64–22 is tested at
64°C).
Bending Beam
Rheometer Test
-The bending beam rheometer measures the
midpoint deflection of a simply supported
prismatic beam of asphalt binder subjected to a
con-stant load applied to its midpoint . The
bending beam rheometer test system consists of a
loading frame, a controlled temperature bath, and
a computer-controlled automated data acquisition
unit.
Direct Tension Test
-The direct tension test system consists of a displacement-
controlled tensile loading machine with gripping system, a
temperature controlled chamber, measuring devices, and a
data acquisition system. In this test, an asphalt binder
specimen, conditioned in the rolling thin-film oven and
pressure-aging vessel, is pulled at a constant rate of
deformation of 1 mm/min.
Traditional Asphalt Characterization Tests
Traditional tests that were used to characterize asphalt
before the development of the Performance Grade
system include the penetration and absolute and
kinematic viscosities.
Absolute and Kinematic
Viscosity Tests
-Similar to the penetration test, the viscosity test is used to measure
asphalt consistency. Two types of viscosity are commonly measured:
absolute and kinematic.
-The absolute viscosity procedure requires heating the asphalt cement and
pouring it into a viscometer placed in a water or oil bath at a temperature
of 60°C (140°F). The viscometer is a U-tube,with a reservoir where the
asphalt is introduced and a section with a calibrated diameter and timing
marks.
Penetration Test
-The penetration test measures asphalt cement consistency.
An asphalt sample is prepared and brought to 25°C (77°F). A
standard needle with a total mass of 100 g is placed on the
asphalt surface. The needle is released and allowed to
penetrate the asphalt for 5 seconds. The depth of
penetration, in units of 0.1 mm, is recorded and reported as
the penetration value. Large penetration value indicates soft
asphalt.
Performance
Asphalt Grading
Concrete
Penetration
Asphalt concrete, also known Grading
as hot-mix asphalt (HMA),
consists of asphalt binder and
aggregates mixed together at Viscosity Grading
a high temperature and placed
and compacted on the road
while still hot. The
performance of asphalt Viscosity of Aged
pavements is largely a Residue Grading
function of the asphalt
Asphalt
Binders
Asphalt binder is produced in
several grades or classes.
There are four methods for
classifying asphalt binders:
Stability or resistance to permanent deformation under the action
of traffic loads, especially at high temperatures.
Penetration GradingFatigue resistance to prevent fatigue cracking
under repeated loadings.
Resistance to thermal cracking that might occur due to contracti
on at low temperatures.
Resistance to hardening or aging during production in the mixing
plant and in service.
Resistance to moisture-induced damage that might result in
stripping of asphalt from aggregate particles.
Skid resistance, by providing enough texture at the pavement
surface.
Workability, to reduce the effort needed during mixing, placing and
compaction.
Regardless of the set of criteria used to state the objectives
of the mix design process, the design of asphalt concrete
mixes requires compromises. For example, extremely high
stability often is obtained at the expense of lower durability,
and vice versa. Thus, in evaluating and adjusting a mix
design for a particular use, the aggregate gradation and
asphalt content must strike a favorable balance between
the stability and durability requirements. Moreover, the
produced mix must be practical and economical.
Two compaction
machines are
Compacted commonly used:
Samples Superpave
Asphalt concrete, also known Gyratory
as hot-mix asphalt (HMA), Compactor
consists of asphalt binder and
Marshall
aggregates mixed together at
a high temperature and placed Hammer
and compacted on the road
while still hot. The
performance of asphalt
pavements is largely a
*Regardless of the compaction Heat and mix the
aggregate and asphalt
method, the procedure for
cement
preparing specimens basically
follows the same four steps:
Place the material into
a heated mold
Apply compaction
force
Allow the specimen to cool
and extrude from the mold
The specific techniques for placing the material into the
mold vary between the compaction methods, and the
standards for the method must be followed.
The greatest difference among the compaction
procedures is the manner in which the compaction effort
is applied.
Superpave Gyratory
Compactor
-The mixture in the mold is placed in the compaction machine at an angle to
the applied force. As The force is applied the mold is gyrated, creating a
shearing action in the mixture.Gyratory compaction devices have been
available for a long time, but their use was limited due to the lack of a mix-
design procedure based on this type of compaction. However, the Superpave
mix design method uses a gyratory compactor; thus, this compaction method is
now common.
- The Superpave gyratory compactor produces specimens 150 mm in diameter
and 95 mm to 115 mm high, allowing the use of aggregates with a maximum
size of more than 37.5 mm (1.5 in.)
Marshall Hammer
-In the Marshall procedure, a slide hammer weighing 4.45
kg (10 lb) is dropped from a height of 0.46 m (18 in.) to
create an impact compaction force. The head of the
Marshall hammer has a diameter equal to the specimen
size, and the hammer is held flush with the specimen at all
times
Increasing asphalt
There are several ways to alter
asphalt concrete’s
content
susceptibility to water
Using a higher
damage.
viscosity asphalt
cement
Cleaning aggregate
of any dust and
clay.
Adding
antistripping
additives
Altering aggregate
gradation.
Accumulation of
permanent deformation
in the wheel path
(rutting).
Cracking due to repeated
Asphalt pavements do not bending of the asphalt
normally fail due to sudden concrete layer (fatigue
collapse under the effect of cracking).
vehicular loads, but due to Thermal cracking
Excessive roughness of
the pavement surface,
Migration of asphalt
binder at the pave-ment
surface (bleeding or
flushing).
Loss of flexibility of asphalt binder due to aging and oxidation
(raveling).
Loss of bond between the asphalt binder and aggregate particles due
to moisture (stripping).
* Therefore, most of the tests used to characterize asphalt concrete try to simulate actual
field conditions.
Indirect Tensile Strength
When traffic loads are applied on the pavement surface, tension is
developed at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer.
Diametral Tensile Resilient Modulus
To evaluate the structural response of the asphalt pavement system, the
modulus of asphalt concrete material is needed.
Freeze and Thaw Test
The freeze and thaw test is performed to evaluate the effect of freeze and
thaw cycles on the stiffness properties of asphalt concrete. Cylindrical
specimens 102 mm (4 in.)in diameter and 64 mm (2.5 in.) high are used.
Superpave Asphalt Mixture Performance Tests
The Superpave volumetric procedure has been widely implemented, with
successful results. However, the method lacks a strength test to verify the
suitability of the Superpave mixes.
Dynamic Modulus Test
The dynamic modulus test in triaxial compression has beenaround the
pavement community for many years. The test consists of applying an axial
sinusoidal compressive stress to an unconfined or confined HMA cylindrical
test specimen.
Triaxial Static Creep Test
In the static compressive creep test, a total strain–time relationship for a
mixture is measured in the laboratory under unconfined or confined
conditions.
Triaxial Repeated Load Permanent Deformation Test
Another approach to measuring the permanent deformation characteristics
of HMA is to use a repeated load test for several thousand repetitions and
to record the cumulative permanent deformation as a function of the
number of load repetitions.
The production and
construction of asphalt
concrete highways can be
Hot Mix described as a three-step
process
Production of Raw
Asphalt Materials
Concrete
Manufacturing
Production and Asphalt Concrete
Construction Field Operations
Production of Raw Materials
Asphalt cement is produced at petroleum refineries and transported to the
asphalt plant and placed in tanks. To maintain flow-ability the asphalt
cement is kept hot, approximately 150°C (300°F), while being transported
to the asphalt and while in the tanks at the asphalt plant.
Manufacturing Asphalt Concrete
The manufacturing of asphalt concrete requires drying the aggregates,
blending them in proportions determined by the mix design, adding the
required amount of asphalt cement and mixing the aggregates and asphalt
cement.alt and while in the tanks at the asphalt plant.
Field Operations
The manufacturing of asphalt concrete requires drying the aggregates,
blending them in proportions determined by the mix design, adding the
required amount of asphalt cement and mixing the aggregates and asphalt
cement.alt and while in the tanks at the asphalt plant.
Recycling of Asphalt Concrete
Recycling pavement materials has a long history. However, recycling
became more important in the mid-1970s, after the oil embargo, due to the
increase in asphalt prices. In an effort to efficiently use available resources,
there was a need to recycle or reuse old pavement materials
Economic saving of about
25% of the price of
The spike in petroleum materials
prices also heightened Energy saving in
interest in recycling. manufacturing and
Environmental concerns transporting raw materials
and the emphasis on
sustainable design are Environmental saving by
further promoting interest reducing the amount of
in asphalt recycling. required new materials
and by eliminating the
Recycling asphalt has the problem of discarding old
following advantages: materials
Economic saving of about
25% of the price of
The spike in petroleum materials
prices also heightened Energy saving in
interest in recycling. manufacturing and
Environmental concerns transporting raw materials
and the emphasis on
sustainable design are Environmental saving by
further promoting interest reducing the amount of
in asphalt recycling. required new materials
and by eliminating the
Recycling asphalt has the problem of discarding old
following advantages: materials
Eliminating the problem of reconstruction of utility structures, curbs, and
gutters associated with overlays
reducing the dead load on bridges due to
overlays
maintaining the tunnel clearance, compared with overlays
Additives
Many types of additives (modifiers) are used to improve the properties of
asphalt or to add special properties to the asphalt concrete mixtures.
Laboratory tests are usually performed and field performance is observed
in order to evaluate the effect of the additives and to justify their cost.
Warm Mix ■Less energy and fuel
consumption to heat the
- is the generic term for a mix
■Lower greenhouse
variety of technologies that
allow the producers of hot-mix gasses
■Less oxidation of the
asphalt pavement material to
asphalt binder
lower the temperatures at
which the material is mixed ■Pave at lower
and placed on the road. temperatures
- Reductions of 25 to 50
degrees C (50 to 100 degrees ■Longer haul distances
F) are common, which offers are possible
the following benefits
■Extending the paving season since the
asphalt can be compacted at lower
