Multi-Level Laboratory Performance

Evaluation of Conventional and High Polymer

Modified Asphalt Mixtures
Jhony Habbouche, Ph.D., P.E.
Technical Session 3: Characterizing Mixture Performance
The 96th AAPT Annual Meeting and Technical Sessions
Wednesday September 1st, 2021, Nashville, TN
 Research Team & Authors

Jhony Habbouche, Ilker Boz, Brian Diefenderfer, Sungho Kim,

Ph.D., P.E., VTRC Ph.D. VTRC Ph.D., P.E, VTRC Ph.D., P.E, VDOT

2
 Introduction
• Modification of asphalt binders has become
progressively more common over the past several
decades.
• Various modifiers were used such as polymers, ground
tire rubber, chemicals, recycled engine oils…
• HP AC mixes (~7-8% SBS polymer content) may offer
additional advantages in flexible pavements subjected to
heavy and slow moving traffic loads (New Construction &
Rehabilitation). 3
State-of-the-Practice for HP Binders and Mixes

4
Survey of US and Canadian Provincial Agencies
Currently uses and/or
previously experienced HP
material + Survey Responses
Received
Currently uses and/or
previously experienced HP
material + Survey Responses
Not Received
No previous experience with
HP material +
Survey Responses Received
No available literature on
previous experience with HP
material + Survey Responses
Not Received
5
 Definitions and Specifications
• Definition and acceptance of HP binders is not related to
SBS polymer content.
• Performance-oriented viewpoint: definition related to
specific binder rheology-related parameters and
characteristics.
Agency Standard / Test Method Properties / Comments
Virginia AASHTO T 332 PG 76E-28
AASHTO T 350 Jnr, 3.2 ≤ 0.1 kPa-1 and R3.2 ≥ 90% at 76 C

6
 Objective & Scope of Work
Assess the viability of using HP AC mixtures in Virginia as
a reflective cracking mitigation technique or as a tool for
increased crack resistance on higher volume facilities:
 Providing information on the state of practice in Northern America
 Evaluating the performance characteristics of PMA and HP
plant produced mixtures placed in Virginia
 Compiling and analyzing PMS data for relevant in-service HP and
several PMA pavements in Virginia
 Determining the life expectancy of HP AC overlays
7
 Experimental Program
PMA (x3)
Seven Selected Field
Rehabilitation Projects
HP (x5)
Asphalt binders supplied
through a rail barrel that
comes into VA from the
Midcontinent (PADD II)
x2 Suppliers
SM-9.5; SM-12.5; SMA-12.5
SM-9.0; SM-9.5; SM-12.5;
SMA-9.5 (x2)
Asphalt binders supplied
through a water born
vessel barrel that is usually
delivered from offshore via
boat (Canada, Europe,
Caribbean, Med)
8
 PMA and HP Asphalt Binders
Binder Continuous Grade based on AASHTO M 320 & M 332
Source / ID PMA HP
PG77.5-23.1 PG84.9-30.5
PG64E-22 PG76E-28
B1
Jnr 3.2 at 64°C = 0.349 kPa-1 Jnr 3.2 at 76°C = 0.093 kPa-1
%R = 46.8% %R = 91.5%
PG78.6-23.0 PG84.9-30.7
PG64E-22 PG76E-28
B2
Jnr 3.2 at 64°C = 0.240 kPa-1 Jnr 3.2 at 76°C = 0.059 kPa-1
%R = 53.3% %R = 92.2%
9
 Experimental Program (Cont’d)
Layer Thickness IDT-CT
Plant Produced Field
Compacted Mixtures (Cores)
Air Voids (A.V.) Texas Overlay

Layer Thickness (mm) In-Place Air Voids (%)

Mix ID Mix Type
Average CI Target Average CI Range
A SM-9.0 (HP) 20.3 1.7 25.4 7.3 0.6 6.8 to 7.9
B SM-9.5 (PMA) 42.9 3.3 38.1 6.3 0.7 5.6 to 7.0
C SM-9.5 (HP) 36.6 2.5 38.1 5.5 0.4 5.1 to 5.9
D SM-12.5 (PMA) 28.1 2.5 25.4 6.1 0.4 5.7 to 6.5
E SM-12.5 (HP) -- -- -- -- -- 6.5 to 7.5a
F SMA-9.5 (HP) 37.6 3.0 38.1 4.0 0.5 3.5 to 4.5
G SMA-9.5 (HP) 42.7 3.1 50.8 4.8 0.6 4.2 to 5.4
H SMA-12.5 (PMA) 51.7 4.4 50.8 5.1 0.7 10 to 5.8
4.3
 Experimental Program (Cont’d)
Plant Produced Laboratory Compacted Mixtures

Mix Designs Volumterics & Aggregate Gradation

Durability Cantabro Mass Loss at Ndesign

Mechanical Property Dynamic Modulus |E*| test

11
 Durability Performance Evaluation
Cantabro Test

SMA-HP

 Lower Mass Loss for HP Mixes  Lower Mass Loss for SMA
12 Mixes
 Experimental Program (Cont’d)
Plant Produced Laboratory Compacted Mixtures

Testing Resistance to Cracking Resistance to Rutting

Complexity

IDT-CT
Basic @ in-place & 7% AV
N/A

APA Test
Intermediate Texas Overlay Test @ in-place & 7% AV

Advanced Cyclic Fatigue Test Repeated Load Triaxial test

13
 Cracking Performance Evaluation
IDT-CT at 25C, CT index SMA-HP

Similar CT index for

SM-PMA & SM-HP CT index:
SMA-HP >>
SMA-PMA

Inconsistent results for SM? 14

 Cracking Performance Evaluation
Texas Overlay Test at 25C, Cycles
Or

Similar or Greater for SM-HP Mixes Greater for SMA-HP

15Mixes
Cracking Performance Evaluation
Texas Overlay Test at 25C, Interaction Plot
Crack Propagation Rate (CPR)
&
Crack Resistance Index (CRI)

16
Cracking Performance Evaluation
Texas Overlay Test at 25C, Interaction Plot

SMA-HP

G
F

17
Cracking Performance Evaluation
Direct Tension Cyclic Fatigue at 25C

Increase in
Fatigue Resistance

18
 Rutting Performance Evaluation
APA at 64C & 8000 Cycles, Rut Depth

SMA-HP

Lower rut depth for HP Mixes Lower air voids  lower19

rut depth
Rutting Performance Evaluation
RLT at 54C, Characteristic

Increase in
Rutting Resistance

SMA-HP

20
 Rutting Performance Evaluation
RLT at 54C, Characteristic

• FN index = ɛp at FN / FN
SM-9.0 SM-9.5 SM-9.5 SM-12.5 SM-12.5 SMA-12.5
Mix Type (HP) (PMA) (HP) (PMA) (HP) SMA-9.5(HP) (PMA)
Mixture ID A B C D E F G H
AC Content, % 5.9 5.4 5.5 5.5 5.2 6.5 6.7 6.6
FN, cycles 774 860 335 176 925 10000 7942 497
ɛp at FN, % 5.1 9.2 7.4 9.8 6.9 3.5 2.7 13.5
FN Index*103, % 6.5 10.7 22.1 55.9 7.5 0.4 0.3 27.2

21
 Findings & Conclusions
Development of an Initial Roadmap
 An improved durability performance by means of Cantabro
mass loss test was observed with HP modification of AC
mixtures.
 Cantabro mass loss can be used to assess the
durability of PMA and HP AC mixtures in Virginia.

22
 Findings & Conclusions
Development of an Initial Roadmap
 Texas overlay and direct tension cyclic fatigue tests
captured the impact of HP modification on the cracking
performance of asphalt mixtures.
 Are these tests quick and simple?

 IDT-CT test showed contradicting observations.

 Further assess the feasibility of using IDT-CT
Comparisons and correlations to predicted cracking obtained from M-E
pavement design simulations and field performance. 23
 Findings & Conclusions
Development of an Initial Roadmap
 An improved rutting performance by means of APA and
RLT tests was observed with HP modification of AC
mixtures.
 Both tests could be used to evaluate the rutting
properties of PMA and HP AC mixtures in Virginia.

These results should be compared and correlated to rut

depths obtained from M-E pavement design simulations and
field performance.
24
 Acknowledgements
 VTRC Team: Staff and Technicians
 VDOT Materials Divisions and Districts
 VA Contractors
 Virginia Asphalt Association (VAA)
 Technical Review Panel:
 David Shiells, Tommy Schinkel, Sungho Kim, and Jason Provines

25
 Multi-Level Laboratory Performance Evaluation of
Conventional and High Polymer Modified Asphalt Mixtures

Virginia Is For Lovers

For more information:
jhony.habbouche@vdot.virginia.gov 26