Book Description
Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) is a name given to different technologies that have the common purpose of reducing the viscosity of the asphalt binders. This reduction in viscosity offers the advantage of producing asphalt-aggregate mixtures at lower mixing and compaction temperatures, and subsequently reducing energy consumption and pollutant emissions during asphalt mix production and placement. WMA technologies can be classified into two groups. The first group reduces the asphalt binders' viscosity through the addition of organic or chemical additives, while the second group reduces the viscosity of the asphalt binders through the addition of water. The latter has received increased attention in Ohio since it does not require the use of costly additives. In spite of the above-mentioned advantages for WMA mixtures, many concerns have been raised regarding the susceptibility of this material to moisture-induced damage and permanent deformation due to the reduced temperature level used during WMA production. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop a laboratory procedure to produce WMA mixtures prepared using foamed asphalt binders (WMA-FA), and to evaluate their performance in comparison to conventional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). This study involved two types of aggregates (natural gravel and crushed limestone) and two types of asphalt binders (PG 64-22 and PG 70-22M). A laboratory scale asphalt binder foaming device called WLB10, produced by Wirtgen, Inc., was used to foam the asphalt binders. The aggregate gradation met the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Construction and Materials Specification (C&MS) requirements for Item 441 Type 1 Surface Course for Medium Traffic. The resistance of WMA-FA and HMA mixtures to moisture-induced damage was measured using AASHTO T-283, and the resistance to permanent deformation was measured using the Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA) and the Simple Performance Test (SPT). Based on the experimental test results and the subsequent analyses findings, the following conclusions were made: [1] WMA-FA mixtures are more workable and easily compacted than HMA mixtures even though they are produced at lower mixing and compaction temperatures; [2] WMA-FA mixtures are slightly more susceptible to moisture damage than HMA mixtures. However, the difference is statistically insignificant. Therefore, if designed properly, both mixtures are expected to meet ODOT's minimum TSR requirement for the proposed traffic level; [3] WMA-FA mixtures, especially those prepared using gravel aggregates and unmodified asphalt binders are more prone to rutting than the corresponding HMA mixtures. Therefore, it is recommended to include the APA test as part of the WMA mix design procedure to ensure satisfactory performance for rutting.
