Thesis
Laboratory evaluation of performance of warm mix asphalt in Washington state
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102750
Abstract
Warm mix asphalt (WMA) is a new and emerging technology. It has constructability, environmental and economic advantages over traditional hot mix asphalt (HMA). However, the performance of WMA must be proven to be at least equivalent to HMA before it can be used as a replacement. This study evaluated the performance of HMA and WMA cores extracted from various field sites in the state of Washington. There were four separate projects observed each with a different WMA technology. The WMA technologies included Sasobit, an organic wax additive and three water foaming technologies, which included the Gencor Green Machine, Ultrafoam GX, Aquablack and water injection. A variety of performance tests were performed on the cores and also the extracted binders. The performance tests evaluated the fatigue and thermal cracking resistance as well as the rutting potential of the WMA and HMA control for each project. The stiffness of the mixes and binders were also tested. Additionally, distresses in these pavements were retrieved from the Washington State Pavement Management System (WSPMS). The results of the laboratory tests and field performance were compared between WMA and HMA control. The stiffness of the HMA and WMA overall were found to be comparable with only slight differences for Sasobit and the Ultrafoam GX WMA binders. For fatigue cracking resistance the water foaming technologies were found to be comparable to HMA while Sasobit was found to have slightly worse fatigue cracking resistance. The thermal cracking resistance of the HMA and WMA were found to be comparable for all technologies except Aquablack which may have a slightly lower thermal cracking resistance. The water foaming technologies exhibited lower rutting resistance from binder tests compared to HMA while Sasobit showed comparable resistance. In the field the HMA and WMA appear to be performing equally well from distress observations. Overall, WMA appears to be an acceptable replacement for HMA.
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Details
- Title
- Laboratory evaluation of performance of warm mix asphalt in Washington state
- Creators
- Nathan Bower
- Contributors
- Haifang Wen (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525188001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis