Asphalt Binder Fall 2004

Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification

Slide 1 ___________________________________
Senior/Graduate
HMA Course
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Asphalt Binders
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Superpave Performance Graded Specification

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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 1 ___________________________________
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Slide 2 Superpave Asphalt Binder Specification ___________________________________

The grading system is based on Climate
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PG 64 - 22
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Performance
Min pavement ___________________________________
temperature
Grade
Average 7-day max
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pavement temperature
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 2 ___________________________________
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Slide 3 ___________________________________
Pavement Temperatures are Calculated
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• Calculated by Superpave software
• High temperature
– 20 mm below the surface of mixture
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• Low temperature
– at surface of mixture ___________________________________
Pave temp = f (air temp, depth, latitude) ___________________________________
www.tfhrc.gov/pavement/ltpp/ltppbind.htm
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 3 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 4 PG Specification Tests
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• Rheology ___________________________________
– Fundamental properties related to HMA
performance
• Test parameters ___________________________________
– Selected to represent in-service & construction
temperatures
• Asphalt binder conditioning
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– Environmental factors
• Short and long term aging ___________________________________
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 4 ___________________________________
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Slide 5 ___________________________________
Rheological Tests Selected
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• Concentric Cylinders
• Dynamic shear rheometer
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• Bending beam
• Direct tension ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 5 ___________________________________
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Slide 6 ___________________________________
Tests Used in PG Specifications
Construction ___________________________________
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RV DSR BBR
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 6 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 7 ___________________________________
Construction Asphalt Binder
Properties ___________________________________
• Concentric cylinder rheometer Construction

– Used to insure a minimum ___________________________________

workability (pumpability) at
typical mixing temperature [RV]
– Maximum viscosity 3kPa at 135oC ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 7 ___________________________________
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Slide 8 Rutting
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RV BBR
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DSR
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 8 ___________________________________
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Slide 9 ___________________________________
Rutting
• High in-service temperature ___________________________________
– Desert climates
– Summer temperatures
• Sustained loads
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Viscous Liquid
– Slow moving trucks
– Intersections Newton’s Law
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σ=ηε
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 9 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 10 ___________________________________
High In-Service Temperatures
• Permanent deformation (rutting) ___________________________________
• Mixture is plastic
• Depends on asphalt binder source, ___________________________________
additives, and aggregate properties

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Function of warm
weather and traffic
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 10 ___________________________________
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Slide 11 ___________________________________
Rutting
• DSR testing ___________________________________
– Minimum stiffness requirement
• Original asphalt binder ___________________________________
• Immediately after construction
– Short term aging Rutting ___________________________________
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[DSR]

Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 11 ___________________________________

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Slide 12 ___________________________________
Short Term Aging
• Simulates stiffening of asphalt binder during ___________________________________
storage, mixing, and hauling

• Function of:
___________________________________
– Oxidation hardening
• Asphalt binder reacts with oxygen ___________________________________
• Volatilization of specific components

• Simulated using rolling thin film oven

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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 12 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 13 ___________________________________
Short Term Aging
• Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT)
– Simulates aging from hot mixing and construction
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 13 ___________________________________
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Slide 14 ___________________________________
Fan
RTFOT
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Rotating
Bottle
Carriage
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Air Line ___________________________________
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After Before
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 14 ___________________________________
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Slide 15 ___________________________________
Mass Loss is Monitored

• Calculate mass loss after RTFO

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Original mass - Aged mass
Mass loss, % = x 100 ___________________________________
Original mass

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• Determine G*/sin δ for RTFO aged material at
same test temp. used for original asphalt binder
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 15 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 16 ___________________________________
Rutting
Superpave DSR test requirements: ___________________________________
G*/sin δ on unaged (original) asphalt binder
> 1.00 kPa ___________________________________
G*/sin δ on RTFO aged asphalt binder
> 2.20 kPa
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For the early part
of the service life ___________________________________
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 16 ___________________________________
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Slide 17 ___________________________________
Rutting
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Question: Why a minimum G*/sin δ to address
rutting ___________________________________
Answer: We want a stiff, elastic asphalt
binder to contribute to mix rutting resistance ___________________________________
How: By increasing G* or decreasing δ
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 17 ___________________________________
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Slide 18 ___________________________________
Fatigue
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RV BBR
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DSR
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 18 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 19 ___________________________________
Fatigue Cracking
Function of repeated traffic loads over time ___________________________________
(in wheel paths)
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 19 ___________________________________
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Slide 20 DSR
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• Aged PG asphalt binder
Fatigue
Cracking ___________________________________
– Since long term performance
problem, include:
• Short term aging
___________________________________
[DSR]
• Long term aging
• Determine DSR parameters using 8 ___________________________________
mm plate and intermediate test
temperature ___________________________________
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 20 ___________________________________
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Slide 21 ___________________________________
Long Term Aging

• Simulates aging of an PG asphalt binder for 7 to

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10 years
• Starts with RTFO aged PG asphalt binder ___________________________________
– Additional aging with Pressure Aging Vessel
(PAV) ___________________________________
• 50 gram

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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 21 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 22 PAV Components
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Rack of individual
pans ___________________________________
(50g of asphalt /
Bottom of pan)
pressure
aging ___________________________________
vessel

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Vessel Lid Components
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 22 ___________________________________
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Slide 23 ___________________________________
PAV Testing
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• After RTFO aging
– 50 gram sample/pan aged for 20 hours in
PAV ___________________________________
• Pressure of 2,070 kPa (300 psi)
• Test temp 90, 100 or 110o C ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 23 ___________________________________
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Slide 24 ___________________________________
Equipment Examples
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www.atspa.com ___________________________________
www.prentex.com
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 24 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 25 ___________________________________
Fatigue Cracking
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• G* (sin δ) on RTFO and PAV aged asphalt
binder ___________________________________
• The parameter addresses the later part of the
fatigue life ___________________________________
• Value must be < 5,000 kPa
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 25 ___________________________________
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Slide 26 ___________________________________
Fatigue Cracking
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• Question: Why a maximum G* sin δ to
address fatigue? ___________________________________
Answer: We want a soft elastic asphalt binder
(to sustain many loads without cracking)
___________________________________
How: By decreasing G* or decreasing δ ___________________________________
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 26 ___________________________________
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Slide 27 ___________________________________
Thermal ___________________________________
Cracking

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RV BBR
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DSR
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 27 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 28 ___________________________________
Low Temperature Behavior
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• Low Temperature
– Cold climates
– Winter
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Elastic Solid
• Rapid Loads
– Fast moving trucks ___________________________________
Hooke’s Law
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σ=τE

Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 28 ___________________________________

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Slide 29 ___________________________________
Low Temperature
• Thermal cracks ___________________________________
– Stress generated by contraction due to
drop in temperature
– Crack forms when thermal stresses exceed
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ability of material to relieve stress through
deformation ___________________________________
• Material is brittle
• Depends on source of asphalt and aggregate
properties
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 29 ___________________________________
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Slide 30 ___________________________________
Thermal Cracking
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests
Courtesy of FHWA
30 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 31 ___________________________________
Low Temperature
Low Temp
Cracking
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• Two rheological tests
– Bending beam
• Stiffness
[DTT] ___________________________________
– Direct tension
• Strength [BBR] ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 31 ___________________________________
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Slide 32 Superpave Requirements

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• BBR Stiffness Properties
– Max stiffness, S, at 60 seconds of 300 MPa
– Min rate of change in stiffness
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• Min slope, m, of 0.300 MPa/sec
• Strength ___________________________________
– Currently being finalized
• See latest recommendations ___________________________________
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 32 ___________________________________
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Slide 33 Summary ___________________________________

Fatigue Low Temp
Cracking
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Construction Rutting Cracking

[DTT] ___________________________________
[RV]
[DSR] [BBR]
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RTFO
No aging Short Term Aging ___________________________________
PAV
Long Term Aging
Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 33 ___________________________________
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Asphalt Binder Fall 2004
Block 4-Superpave Performance Graded Specification
Slide 34 ___________________________________
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QUESTIONS ?
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Asphalt Binders Superpave Binder Tests 34 ___________________________________
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