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Research on mechanistic properties of asphalt mixtures

May 2003
From the CTS Research E-News

University of Minnesota researchers have released a report on dynamic and resilient modulus testing of four standard Mn/DOT asphalt mixtures. Engineers hope that research of this kind will make complex modulus a standard design parameter in the mechanistic pavement design process, and lead to the ability to predict rutting and fatigue cracking in paved surfaces.

Dynamic and Resilient Modulus of Mn/DOT Asphalt Mixtures, by Mihai Marasteanu, Timothy Clyne, Xinjun Li, and Eugene Skok of the Department of Civil Engineering, covers tests carried out on pavement samples from the Mn/ROAD testing facility.

Their work was prompted by recommendations in the 2002 Guide for the Design of New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures, currently under development by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, that dynamic modulus serve as a design parameter and a simple performance test. The team used procedures specified in the 2002 Design Guide to test samples of four typical Minnesota pavement mixes at a variety of temperatures and frequencies.

The researchers' main objective generate master curves of modulus vs. frequency from the test data. They then compared the experimental master curves to modulus values obtained from two predictive equations proposed by 2002 Design Guide.

In two of the four cases, the researchers were able to obtain experimental modulus curves that corresponded well to the predicted values. However, their results indicated that sample preparation procedures have a significant impact on the results, so adherence to the Design Guide specifications is essential. In the other two cases, experimental results did not conform well to the predicted values, indicating a need for additional research.

The report (Mn/DOT 2003-09) is available from the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Research Services Section Web site at www.research.dot.state.mn.us or from the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) Web site at www.lrrb.gen.mn.us/PDF/200309.pdf.