Performance of Special Graded Asphalt Cements
Abstract
This report documents an investigation that evaluated the performance of special graded asphalt cements in airfield pavements subjected to extreme cold conditions. The study included a literature review, pavement inspections, and laboratory testing of the field samples. The basis of this study was to determine whether arctic grade asphalt cements minimized the amount and severity of low-temperature cracking. Three locations were chosen for the field evaluation: Wainwright Army Airfield, Alaska; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; and Sondrestrom Air Base, Greenland. At each location, a visual inspection was conducted to determine the amount and severity of cracking of pavement with standard and special graded asphalt cements. At each site, field samples were taken to evaluate the properties of the in-place asphalt concrete materials. From the data obtained, recommendations were made concerning the use of special graded asphalt cements in DOD pavements. The findings of this study indicated that PVN criteria should be modified and that the type of construction (full depth repair versus overlay) had greater effect on pavement performance based on cracking than the type of asphalt cement. This study also indicated that asphalt modification affected the PVN values without improving the performance. It is recommended that material testing be conducted to insure asphalt cements have not been modified to disguise an unacceptable asphalt cement. Airfield pavements, Pen-Vis Number (PVN), Arctic grade asphalts, Rheological properties, Asphalt concrete, Temperature susceptibility, Cold weather paving, Thermal cracking, Low temperature cracking
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA283993
Entities
People
- Gary L. Anderton
- Lee E. Tidwell
- Randy C. Ahlrich