Browsing by Subject "Asphalt pavements"

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Asphalt Pavement Maintenance Field Guide
    (Minnesota Local Road Research Board, 2002-01) Johnson, Ann M.
    This field guide provides guidelines for preventive asphalt pavement maintenance techniques for a variety of distresses and conditions. It covers crack treatments (clean and seal, rout and seal, full-depth crack repair); surface treatments (fog seal, seal coat, thin hot-mix overlays); pothole patching and repair (cold-mix asphalt, spray injection patching, hotmix asphalt, slurry or microsurfacing material). This guide is condensed from the Best Practices Handbook on Asphalt Pavement Maintenance, manual number 2000-04, available at http://hdl.handle.net/11299/199769.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Best Practices Handbook on Asphalt Pavement Maintenance
    (Minnesota Technology Transfer/LTAP Program, Center for Transportation Studies, 2000-02) Johnson, Ann M.
    The purpose of this handbook is to provide background information about the importance of pavement preservation and preventive maintenance, as well as present maintenance techniques for a variety of distresses and conditions. The major focus of this handbook is on preventive maintenance activities, which are performed while the roadway is still in good condition with only minimal distress, before the pavement falls into a condition where structural overlays, major milling or reclaiming, or replacement is necessary. The most common flexible pavement distresses are cracking, roughness, weathering, raveling, rutting and bleeding. If the distresses identified in a pavement are related to structural deficiencies, the pavement section is most likely not a candidate for preventive maintenance treatment, and should be scheduled for rehabilitation or reconstruction. Maintenance treatments covered in this handbook include: Crack repair w/sealing, including clean and seal, saw and seal, and rout and seal; crack filling, full depth crack repair, fog seal, seal coat, double chip seal, slurry seal, microsurfacing, thin hot mix overlays, and potholes and pavement patching. Tables are outlined giving the most common flexible pavement distresses, along with the best practices for rehabilitation for each. Also given are recommended applications for crack sealers and fillers, surface treatments, and pothole patching. Specifications, technical memoranda and special provisions are included for all treatment methods recommended in the handbook.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Comprehensive Field Evaluation of Asphalt Patching Methods and Development of Simple Decision Trees and a Best Practices Manual
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2017-06) Barman, Manik; Dailey, Jay; Dave, Eshan V.; Kostick, Robert D.
    The long-term performance of pothole patches largely depends on the selection of the patching method. A number of pothole patching methods are in practice in Minnesota and other nearby states. However, pavement maintenance crews often encounter problems in selecting the most appropriate patching method because proper guidelines are not available. The objective of this project was to investigate the effectiveness of different pavement patching methods and to develop simple decision trees and a best practices manual. The performance of 20 different pothole patches, which were patched with four different types of patching methods and located at five different construction sites, were monitored for approximately two years. Based on the observed performance of the pothole patches considered in this study, two forms of decision trees and a best practices manual have been developed for selecting the most appropriate patching method for a given pothole condition. The developed decision trees can be used to select the patching method based on the location of the pothole (e.g., along longitudinal joints, localized potholes, etc.), construction season, condition of the pothole, and pothole area and depth. The best practices manual provides guidelines on the selection of patching method, pothole preparation, placement of patching materials, and compaction.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Cost/Benefit Analysis of the Effectiveness of Crack Sealing Techniques
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation., 2019-06) Barman, Manik; Munch, Jared; Arepalli, Uma M
    Crack sealing is an important preventive treatment in the pavement preservation program. To achieve a cost-effective crack seal, it is important to select a proper crack sealing method. While Minnesota usually seals cracks in asphalt pavements, there is no clear consensus on the most appropriate crack sealing method for a specific job. This study focused on developing a guideline so that a cost-effective crack sealing method could be chosen based on pavement type, functional condition, pavement age, and traffic volume etc. This study includes a literature review, online survey, field performance data collection and analysis, and development of a guideline. The effectiveness of the crack seals was determined using a benefit-cost analysis. Two decision trees were developed for choosing the most appropriate crack sealing method. The first, which can be used in MnDOT’s pavement management system, needs information such as crack severity, pavement type (new vs overlay), pavement analysis period and design life, traffic level, and crack seal occurrence number. The second decision tree, which is a simplified version of the first and can be used by the preventive maintenance crews and requires less information: crack severity, traffic level, and crack sealing occurrence number.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Design and Construction Guidelines for Thermally Insulated Concrete Pavements
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2013-01) Khazanovich, Lev; Balbo, Jose T.; Johanneck, Luke; Lederle, Rita; Marasteanu, Mihai; Saxena, Priyam; Tompkins, Derek; Vancura, Mary; Watson, Mark; Harvey, John; Santero, Nicholas J.; Signore, James
    The report describes the construction and design of composite pavements as a viable design strategy to use an asphalt concrete (AC) wearing course as the insulating material and a Portland cement concrete (PCC) structural layer as the load-carrying material. These pavements are intended for areas with heavy trucks and problem soils to increase the service life and minimize maintenance. The project focused specifically on thermally insulated concrete pavements (TICPs) (that is, composite thin AC overlays of new or structurally sound existing PCC pavements) and developed design and construction guidelines for TICPs. Specific research objectives include determining behavior of the layers of the TICP system, understanding life-cycle costs and the feasibility of TICPs, and incorporating the results into design and construction guidelines. Both construction and design guidelines are considered in light of the construction and performance of TICP test sections at the Minnesota Road Research project (MnROAD).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Environmental analysis of using recycled asphalt shingles in pavement applications.
    (2011-02) Austin, Jasmine
    Recycled asphalt shingles have been used in paving applications for more than two decades and have growing acceptance in the industry. The cost of asphalt binder has steadily increased, fueling pressure to find suitable recycled materials to supplement virgin materials. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has dedicated several studies for using asphalt shingle scrap in asphalt pavements. There are two types of shingles that can be used in pavement: manufacturer waste shingle scrap and tear off shingle scrap. As a result of the studies performed, the Minnesota Department of Transportation currently allows up to 5% of manufacturer waste shingle scrap in paving applications. Research on tear off shingle scrap is continuously developing, and a draft specification from the Minnesota Department of Transportation indicates that up to 5% can be used in asphalt pavement. In this thesis, both types of shingles were used in asphalt mixtures that were tested for performance to determine if the addition of shingles affects the physical properties. In addition, an environmental analysis was performed. The objective of this research was to determine if it physically makes sense to use shingles in pavement and to understand the environmental implications—which include reducing virgin materials which can yield energy savings. The analysis suggests up to 3% tear off shingle scrap in asphalt mixtures results in an effect on low temperature properties similar to the addition of up to 5% manufacturer waste shingle scrap, if combined with recycled asphalt pavement addition of more than 20%. The results of our research do support previous research efforts regarding the use of recycled asphalt shingles in pavement; however, based on these results, the Minnesota Department of Transportation draft specification for the use of tear off shingle scrap in asphalt pavement should state that up to 3%, not 5%, shingles can be used.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Experimental and Computational Investigations of High-Density Asphalt Mixtures
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-10) Marasteanu, Mihai; Le, Jia-Liang; Hill, Kimberly; Yan, Tianhao; Man, Teng; Turos, Mugurel; Barman, Manik; Arepalli, Uma Maheswar; Munch, Jared
    Compaction of asphalt mixtures represents a critical step in the construction process that significantly affects the performance and durability of asphalt pavements. In this research effort, the compaction process of asphalt mixtures was investigated using a combined experimental and computational approach. The primary goal was to understand the main factors responsible for achieving good density and was triggered by the success of a recently proposed Superpave 5 mix design method. First, a two-scale discrete element method (DEM) model was developed to simulate the compaction process of asphalt mixtures. The computational model was anchored by a fluid dynamics-discrete element model, which is capable of capturing the motion of aggregates in the viscous binder. The model was then calibrated and validated by a series of experiments, which included rheological tests of the binder and a compaction test of the mixture. It was concluded that the compaction process was significantly influenced by the rheological properties of the fine aggregate matrix and by the sphericity of the coarse aggregates. Finally, the mechanical properties of two high-density mixtures were determined and compared with mechanical properties of mixtures used for MnROAD 2017 National road Research Alliance (NRRA) test sections. It was found that the properties of high-density mixtures as a group were not significantly different compared to the properties of conventional mixtures.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Full-Depth Reclamation (FDR) for Suburban/Urban and Local Roads Application
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2016-12) Hartman, Marcella; Turos, Mugur; Ghosh, Debaroti; Marasteanu, Mihai
    Full-depth reclamation (FDR) as a rehabilitation method improves the service life of pavement structures by reusing asphalt materials, thereby reducing costs and allowing for conservation of nonrenewable resources. However, the lack of mechanicsbased material testing procedures and performance-based specifications limit the use of FDR processes. First, the FDR design and construction process are presented, then, a literature review focusing on FDR research is completed, and a survey is conducted to obtain relevant information regarding current FDR practices in Minnesota. Next, Indirect Tensile Test (IDT) and Dynamic Modulus Test in IDT mode testing is performed on four FDR materials: Field mixed, Lab compacted; Lab mixed, Lab compacted; FDR with cement additive; and FDR with graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) additive. Two curing times are used to determine how physical properties change over time. Test results are used to perform simulations in MnPAVE software and a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA). Laboratory observations indicate that cement additive reduces predicted life and increases critical cracking temperature with a slight increase in cost; GNP additive reduces predicted life but also reduces critical cracking temperature with a significant cost increase; Lab mixed samples performed better than Field mixed, suggesting that field methods could be improved; and curing has a positive effect on the FDR materials with cement and GNP additives--for both materials, the dynamic modulus increase, and the GNP samples also had a slight increase in tensile strength. MnPAVE simulations and LCCA results indicate that over a 35-year period, FDR may be a more cost-effective method than traditional mill and overlay.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Relationship Between Timber Bridge Characteristics and Asphalt Pavement Wear Surface Performance
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1997-06) Larson, Timothy D.; Seavey, Robert; Lange, Douglas A.
    Asphalt wear surfaces cover 1,378 of Minnesota's timber bridges. This study assessed the magnitude of premature asphalt deterioration on timber bridges; identified the primary mechanisms responsible for wear surface deterioration; and suggested methods for improving asphalt pavement performance on timber bridges. Research methods included surveys, meetings with several county engineers and tours of their timber bridges, interviews with both asphalt and timber bridge industry professionals, and literature reviews. The study revealed that approximately 50 percent of counties experience some problems with premature reduced serviceability of the asphalt pavement wear surfaces that cover their timber bridges. Possible pavement failure mechanisms include low-temperature cracking, reflective cracking from deck fault lines found at deck panel joint lines and deck lamination separations, asphalt fatigue fracturing, and asphalt de-bonding due to oil preservatives interference. The report presents the following proposed solutions for controlling timber bridge asphalt pavement cracking: asphalt pavement saw & seal, asphalt pavement fabric or material underlay, removal of extruded oil-type preservative before surfacing, conditioning of bridge timbers to the expected equilibrium moisture content before bridge installation, and tightening of timber decks through maintenance practices.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Relationship Between Timber Bridge Characteristics and Asphalt Pavement Wear Surface Performance: Summary
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1997-06) Lange, Douglas A.; Larson, Timothy D.; Seavey, Robert
    This summary offers an overview of on a research study that assessed the magnitude of premature asphalt deterioration on timber bridges; identified the primary mechanisms responsible for wear surface deterioration; and suggested methods for improving asphalt pavement performance on timber bridges. The study revealed that approximately 50 percent of counties experience some problems with premature reduced serviceability of the asphalt pavement wear surfaces that cover their timber bridges. The summary looks at possible pavement failure mechanisms and presents the following proposed solutions for controlling timber bridge asphalt pavement cracking: asphalt pavement saw & seal, asphalt pavement fabric or material underlay, removal of extruded oil-type preservative before surfacing, conditioning of bridge timbers to the expected equilibrium moisture content before bridge installation, and tightening of timber decks through maintenance practices.