Significance of Oxidative Aging on the Thermal Cracking Predictions in Asphalt Concrete Pavements

Thermal cracking of asphalt concrete pavements is responsible for millions of dollars in annual maintenance and rehabilitation costs in the United States and Canada. Thermal cracking typically is associated with low temperatures in northern climates and at high elevations. Another form of thermal cracking, known as thermal fatigue cracking, has been proposed by several researchers as a potential mode of distress in regions with relatively moderate climates. The objectives were to evaluate the possibility of the occurrence of the thermal fatigue cracking mode of distress and to identify a suitable laboratory test procedure to facilitate a mechanistic analysis of this mode of distress. The most promising test procedures evaluated included the direct tensile creep test and the thermal stress restrained specimen test. The results suggest that thermal fatigue distress in asphalt concrete mixtures is not a viable mode of distress in the absence of environmental aging. From the data presented and results documented by others, it is evident that distress often attributed to thermal fatigue cracking is more likely the result of low-temperature cracking of environmentally aged mixtures or subgrade-related distress. It is concluded that fatigue distress due to thermal loading of semirestrained pavements does not occur.

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Field assessment of oxidative aging in asphalt concrete pavements with unknown acoustic properties

Construction and Building Materials ◽

10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.04.117 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 116 ◽

pp. 159-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Megan E. McGovern ◽

William G. Buttlar ◽

Henrique Reis

Keyword(s):

Asphalt Concrete ◽

Acoustic Properties ◽

Concrete Pavements ◽

Oxidative Aging ◽

Field Assessment

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Characterization of oxidative aging in asphalt concrete pavements using its complex moduli

10.1117/12.2044781 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Megan McGovern ◽

Behzad Behnia ◽

Brian Hill ◽

William G. Buttlar ◽

Henrique Reis

Keyword(s):

Asphalt Concrete ◽

Concrete Pavements ◽

Complex Moduli ◽

Oxidative Aging

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Rheology of Asphalt Binder Modified with 5W30 Viscosity Grade Waste Engine Oil

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app8071194 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 1194 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Touqeer Shoukat ◽

Pyeong Jun Yoo

Keyword(s):

Asphalt Binder ◽

Thermal Cracking ◽

Engine Oil ◽

Test Results ◽

Colloidal Systems ◽

Oxidative Aging ◽

Waste Engine Oil ◽

Performance Grade ◽

Oil Fraction ◽

Rotational Viscosity

The pavement structure tends to shrink under low temperature conditions and cracks will appear upon crossing threshold binder stiffness. Decreasing the binder viscosity at such low temperatures, by introducing additional oil fraction (aromatics and saturates) in asphalt colloidal systems, may result in improved resistance to thermal cracking. A single multi-grade engine oil (5W30) was used in this study to analyze the rheological properties imparted to binders. Rotational Viscosity (RV) test revealed that after Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) aging, fresh oil and waste oil have a similar effect on decreasing the viscosity of binder and construction temperatures, reducing them by 5~8 °C. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) test results showed an abrupt increase of carbonyl concertation when fresh engine oil was used for rejuvenation while waste engine oil was less susceptible to oxidative aging. Dynamic analysis of modified binders proved that engine oil has better thermal cracking resistance but relaxation ability of binders and rutting resistance was impaired. Filtered waste engine oil resulted in a 35% decrement in the stiffness of binder compared to virgin asphalt after short term aging but upper Performance Grade (PG) was compromised by 1~3 °C with 2.5% oil inclusion. Unfiltered waste engine oil proved to have the least overall performance compared to fresh and filtered waste engine oil.

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