Performance Evaluation of High Polymer Modified Asphalt Binders and Mixtures for Local Technical Specifications Definition

Abstract

Asphalt bitumen has been used in hot mix asphalt (HMA) since the late 19th century and early 20th century. Following the increasing traffic loads on roads and highways, polymer modification of bitumen (PMB) was further introduced in the 1930s. As time progressed, traffic loads, volumes, and challenging climate conditions motivated the pavement engineering community to experiment with high polymer modification percentages. In the UAE, these challenging traffic and climate conditions represent the normal operating conditions of the transportation network. However, the technical standards include recommendations for using neat bitumen with low penetration grades to produce HMAs. Only on rare occasions is PMB recommended. Recently, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi engaged the pavement engineering research group at Khalifa University of Science and Technology in a study to properly implement technical specifications for PMBs based on the local environment and traffic conditions. For this reason, a mechanical evaluation of the polymer-modified binders that can be produced locally, together with the corresponding HMA, is crucial.

The research plan of this thesis includes two stages of research activities. The first focuses on the characterization of bituminous binders with different modifiers percentages. Then, in the second part of the research, a selected number of PMBs are used for the laboratory production of HMA. The rutting and cracking performance of HMAs are evaluated through a series of laboratory tests. The results of both phases are considered as a whole and analyzed critically to select test protocols and laboratory performance thresholds to be implemented in the local technical specification.

Date of Award	Dec 2022
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Michele Antonio Lanotte (Supervisor)