Pavement performance models play a vital role in any pavement management system. The Regional Government of Biscay (RGB) (Spain) manages a 1200 km road network and conducts pavement data collections, including the International Roughness Index (IRI) values. The aim of the paper is to develop an IRI performance model for two-lane roads with flexible pavement until the first maintenance and/or rehabilitation activity is performed. Due to the huge amount of available information, a deterministic model was selected. A literature review of deterministic models showed that, apart from age and traffic volumes, the pavement structure is a key factor. Therefore, it was decided to analyze the only road stretches whose entire pavement section was known (surface layer + base + subbase). Various variables related to age, traffic volumes and employed materials were introduced as possible factors. The multiple linear regression model with the highest coefficient of determination and all the variables significant included the real pavement age, the cumulated heavy traffic and the total thickness of bituminous layers. As the material employed in the surface layer could affect roughness progression, a qualitative variable was introduced to consider various surface materials. The model improved its accuracy, indicating that the surface layer material is also an influencing factor on IRI evolution.

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/10/2/97/pdf

IRI Performance Models for Flexible Pavements in Two-Lane Roads until First Maintenance and/or Rehabilitation Work

Analysis of rheological properties and aging mechanism of bitumen after short-term and long-term aging

As bitumen from different manufacturers exhibit different properties, which may impact on the performance of asphalt pavement, currently it is necessary to implement appropriate methods in order to classify or identify the source of bitumen. In this work, 15 bitumen samples from three different manufacturers were collected and analysed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). The spectrum data were analysed by data pretreatment and principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA score plot reveals that the bitumen samples were successfully solved in three distinct regions, and each cluster comprised bitumen from the same manufacturer. Furthermore, the regression model was obtained by PCA and validated by detecting testing bitumen samples, which exhibited high correct identification rates. The results suggested that PCA-assisted ATR-FTIR spectroscopy could be a promising rapid and accurate method for classifying and identifying the source of bitumen, and would be capable of furthe...

Application of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and principal component analysis (PCA) for quick identifying of the bitumen produced by different manufacturers

This research aims to investigate physical, storage stability, morphology and rheological properties of asphalt modified by natural rubber (NR), polyphosphoric acid and sulphur. NR is used in a lat...

Natural rubber latex-modified asphalts for pavement application: effects of phosphoric acid and sulphur addition

An examination of natural rubber modified asphalt: Effects of rubber latex contents based on macro- and micro-observation analyses

The performance of Agbabu natural bitumen modified with polyphosphoric acid through fundamental and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic investigations

Bitumen is used as a binder in flexible road pavement but it reacts with atmospheric oxygen and hardens leading to road failures. This study therefore investigates the viability of using some polymers/modifiers to modify Agbabu natural bitumen (ANB) to reduce its susceptibility to oxidation and hence gives its road pavement longer service life. Purified ANB (base) sample was modified using melt blend technique. Three polymers: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl-acetate) (PEVA) and Poly(styrene-co-butadiene) (PSCB) were used in 2, 4, and 6wt% for modification. Thereafter, long-term aging was thermally simulated on the base and polymer modified ANB samples at 60 oC. Both aged and unaged samples were then subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometric Analysis and Oscillating Disc Rheometer (ODR) test to study the effects of aging on physicochemical and rheological properties of the samples. Our finding showed that PEVA modified samples at 2 and 6wt.% showed compar...

Hassan O. Bakare

Papers

The performance of Agbabu natural bitumen modified with polyphosphoric acid through fundamental and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic investigations

Polymer modified-natural bitumen thermal aging resistance studies

The effects on oxidative aging, physical and flow properties of Agbabu natural bitumen modified with silver nanoparticles.

Thermal Aging and Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis of Polymer Modified Agbabu Natural Bitumen