Understanding the Illinois Flexibility Index Test (I-FIT) using Indiana Asphalt Mixtures

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (6) ◽  
pp. 337-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Batioja-Alvarez ◽  
Jusang Lee ◽  
John E. Haddock
Keyword(s):  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Cumulative Distribution ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Specimen Thickness ◽  
Index Test ◽  
Dominant Type ◽  
Cracking Potential ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Flexibility Index ◽  
Air Void Content

Asphalt mixture cracking has become the dominant type of asphalt pavement distress in Indiana. In recent years, efforts have shifted away from the standard Superpave mixture design method in search of methods to improve the resistance of asphalt pavements to cracking-related distress. This paper presents a review of the applicability of the Illinois Flexibility Index Test (I-FIT) to evaluate the cracking potential of Indiana asphalt mixtures. In this study, two cracking indices were compared: the flexibility index (FI) and the cracking resistance index (CRI), both derived from the load-displacement curve. The applicability of quality assurance (QA) tests of laboratory-compacted and field-compacted samples was also explored to evaluate the cracking potential, and I-FIT was investigated for its applicability as a performance-related quality control (QC)/QA test. The results show that the FI values obtained from field-compacted samples were consistently higher than those of the lab-compacted samples. Both the FI and CRI values were significantly affected by variations in specimen thickness and air void content, with higher FI values observed with an increase in the air void content and a decrease in specimen thickness. The CRI values were less sensitive to I-FIT variability and more repeatable compared to the FI values. Finally, as an illustrative example, the cumulative distribution function of the FI values for a population of asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures was used to establish the different ranges for the quality thresholds of the materials.

Impact of Specimen Configuration and Characteristics on Illinois Flexibility Index

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (28) ◽  
pp. 383-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Rivera-Perez ◽  
Hasan Ozer ◽  
Imad L. Al-Qadi
Keyword(s):  
Correction Factor ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Displacement Curve ◽  
Specimen Thickness ◽  
Index Test ◽  
Notch Length ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Flexibility Index ◽  
Air Void Content

The Illinois Department of Transportation adopted the Illinois Flexibility Index Test (I-FIT) to evaluate the cracking vulnerability of asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures that was often shown to increase with the addition of recycled materials such as reclaimed asphalt pavement and recycled asphalt shingles. The test consists of a semi-circular AC sample that has a notch, loaded along the symmetric axis. Fracture energy (FE), post-peak slope, and the flexibility index (FI) are computed from the load displacement curve. These results can be influenced by specimen geometry and test parameters such as loading rate, AC voids content, and so forth. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of notch length, specimen thickness, loading rate, and AC air void content on the I-FIT results. It was found that an increase in the specimen thickness or loading rate resulted in a steeper post-peak slope without affecting the FE. As a result, the FI decreased. An increase in the notch length or AC air void content resulted in a flatter post-peak slope, thus, increasing the FI. From the results, it was concluded that existing correction factors to address the variations caused by specimen thickness and air void content are appropriate. A correction factor to address notch length variations is proposed. A unique correction factor for loading rate could not be developed because of the varying rate dependency of each AC mixture.

scholarly journals A GPR-Based Pavement Density Profiler: Operating Principles and Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2613
Author(s):  
Nectaria Diamanti ◽  
A. Peter Annan ◽  
Steven R. Jackson ◽  
Dylan Klazinga
Keyword(s):  
Asphalt Pavement ◽  
Wave Impedance ◽  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Air Voids ◽  
New Instrument ◽  
Pavement Engineering ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Air Void Content

Density is one of the most important parameters in the construction of asphalt mixtures and pavement engineering. When a mixture is properly designed and compacted, it will contain enough air voids to prevent plastic deformation but will have low enough air void content to prevent water ingress and moisture damage. By mapping asphalt pavement density, areas with air void content outside of the acceptable range can be identified to predict its future life and performance. We describe a new instrument, the pavement density profiler (PDP) that has evolved from many years of making measurements of asphalt pavement properties. This instrument measures the electromagnetic (EM) wave impedance to infer the asphalt pavement density (or air void content) locally and over profiles.

Use of Mechanistic Models to Investigate Fatigue Performance of Asphalt Mixtures

2015 ◽  
Vol 2507 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Sub Lee ◽  
Nelson Gibson ◽  
Y. Richard Kim
Keyword(s):  
Damage Model ◽  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Fatigue Performance ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Continuum Damage ◽  
Direct Tension ◽  
Air Voids ◽  
Viscoelastic Continuum Damage ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Air Void Content

Effects of design air void contents, design voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), and in-place air voids on the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures were investigated with mechanistic analyses based on the viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) analyses and the mechanistic–empirical pavement analysis using the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design program. The VECD analyses included the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage model at the material level and two structural models: ( a) layered viscoelastic analysis and ( b) layered viscoelastic pavement analysis for critical distresses. The mix design of a 2013 accelerated loading facility test lane was selected to develop the volumetric mix designs with the design air voids of 3%, 4%, and 5%, design VMAs of 13%, 14%, and 15%, and in-place air void contents of 5%, 7%, and 9% with the Bailey method. Dynamic modulus and direct tension cyclic fatigue tests were performed in accordance with the AASHTO TP 107 procedure. The test results showed that the linear viscoelastic property was affected by the design VMA, design air void content, and in-place air void content in order of sensitivity. Also, the damage states at failure determined from the damage characteristic curves and the mechanistic fatigue predictions had consistent trends as observed for the design VMA, in-place air void, and design air void content in rank of sensitivity. Finally, the design VMA, in-place air void, and design air void parameters were found to be sensitive in the mechanistic analyses, whereas the parameter that was most sensitive in the pavement mechanistic–empirical analysis was the in-place air void content.

Moisture Sensitivity of Asphalt Mixtures using Cycling Pore Pressure Conditioning

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pajtim Sulejmani ◽  
Safwat Said ◽  
Sven Agardh ◽  
Abubeker Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Complex Modulus ◽  
Moisture Damage ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Binder Content ◽  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Premature Failure ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Air Void Content

One of the major causes of premature failure in asphalt pavements is moisture damage. Asphalt mixtures designed without considering climate impacts may suffer from durability problems caused by movement of water inside the asphalt mixture. Rolling traffic over wet pavement builds up pore pressure in the mixture, which will consequently accelerate deterioration. The objective of the study was to assess the moisture damage to asphalt concrete mixtures by means of complex modulus testing of dry and moisture-conditioned asphalt specimens with various mixture compositions. The asphalt mixtures were conditioned with the Moisture Induced Sensitivity Tester (MIST), which aims to replicate pore pressure in field conditions. The results showed a decline in stiffness modulus and a reduction in elastic properties after MIST conditioning. In addition, the results indicated that binder content and air void content had a significant influence on the reduction in stiffness. To capture the relationship between air void content, binder content, and the reduction in stiffness, a relationship was developed and validated with measurements on cores extracted in the field.

scholarly journals Influence of Air Void Content on Moisture Damage Susceptibility of Asphalt Mixtures

2014 ◽  
Vol 2446 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Varveri ◽  
S. Avgerinopoulos ◽  
C. Kasbergen ◽  
A. Scarpas ◽  
A. Collop
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Damage ◽  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Damage Susceptibility ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Air Void Content

scholarly journals Investigation of Acoustic Properties of Poroelastic Asphalt Mixtures in Laboratory and Field Conditions

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2649
Author(s):  
Wladyslaw Gardziejczyk ◽  
Piotr Jaskula ◽  
Jerzy A. Ejsmont ◽  
Marek Motylewicz ◽  
Marcin Stienss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Absorption Coefficient ◽  
Sound Absorption ◽  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Sound Absorption Coefficient ◽  
Void Content ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Air Void Content

Measures for the improvement of acoustic conditions in the vicinity of roads include the construction of pavement structures with low-noise surfaces with optimal macrotexture and the highest possible sound absorption coefficient. Laboratory evaluation of acoustic properties of a designed asphalt mixture before its placement in the pavement is a good solution. Currently, the most popular method for the determination of the sound absorption coefficient of various construction materials under laboratory conditions is the Kundt’s tube test. Sound absorption coefficient can also be assessed based on field and laboratory measurements performed using a Spectronics ACUPAVE System. Other parameters characterising the acoustic properties of road pavement courses include air void content and water drainability or permeability. The article presents an analysis of results of sound absorption coefficient obtained using a Spectronics ACUPAVE System and water drainability and permeability of poroelastic mixtures obtained both in laboratory and on test sections, in relation to air void content and grading of the mixtures. It was established that poroelastic mixtures containing an aggregate of maximum particle size of 5 mm are characterised by better acoustic properties than mixtures with a maximum aggregate particle size of 8 mm. Changes of crumb rubber aggregate grading and bitumen type (within the tested range of values) as well as the addition of lime have shown no evident influence on the sound absorption coefficient. Noise level values at the speed of 30 km/h according to the CPX method were measured as well. Relationships between sound absorption coefficient, water drainability/permeability, and air void content were determined. The performed analyses confirmed that Spectronics ACUPAVE System may be applied for evaluation of acoustic properties of asphalt mixtures in laboratory conditions, but further research is needed to reduce the uncertainty of the results.

scholarly journals Effect of Rejuvenators on the Workability and Performances of Reclaimed Asphalt Mixtures

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 6385
Author(s):  
Wei Tang ◽  
Xin Yu ◽  
Ning Li ◽  
Fuqiang Dong ◽  
Zhongyuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Temperature Stability ◽  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Asphalt Binders ◽  
Void Content ◽  
High Temperature Stability ◽  
Moisture Susceptibility ◽  
Reclaimed Asphalt ◽  
Air Void ◽  
Air Void Content

The use of rejuvenators has enhanced the workability of asphalt mixtures containing the reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). This conclusion is based on the determination of viscosity of asphalt binders, while not validated from reclaimed asphalt mixtures. In this study, the effect of two rejuvenators (ordinary and emulsified rejuvenator) on the workability of reclaimed asphalt mixtures was evaluated by measuring the mixing torque and determining the air void content of reclaimed mixtures. In addition, their effects on the performances of reclaimed mixture were studied via the three indexes tests, rutting test and freeze-thaw splitting tests. The experimental results show that mixing torque and air void content of reclaimed mixtures with the emulsified rejuvenator is 4% and 6% lower than that with the ordinary rejuvenator, respectively. This indicates that improvement of the workability of reclaimed mixtures can be achieved by using an emulsified rejuvenator, but not by an ordinary rejuvenator. That is also the reason that at least 20% greater high-temperature stability is found for reclaimed mixtures by using the emulsified rejuvenator than using the ordinary rejuvenator. In addition, reclaimed mixtures with the emulsified rejuvenator show similar moisture susceptibility to that with the ordinary rejuvenator. This study provides a feasible method to assess the workability effect of rejuvenators on reclaimed mixtures directly and recommends the use of an emulsified rejuvenator to improve the workability and high-temperature stability of reclaimed mixtures.

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