UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 1 Research Projects

Project No.: CY1-UTEP-02
Title: Investigation of Hot Mix Asphalt Aging Effect on Mechanical Properties of Mixes Based on Their Binder Performance Results
Performing Institution: The University of Texas at El Paso
Principal Investigator: Imad Abdallah and Miguel Montoya, The University of Texas at El Paso
Start and Anticipated Completion Dates: 09/01/2023-08/31/2024
Project Description: Because hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavement layers undergo a complex aging process over time that changes their physical and chemical properties, it is important to develop guidelines for designing HMAs with improved resistance to aging. Equally important is to implement such guidelines. This study aims to investigate the effects of HMA aging on the mechanical properties of mixes, including cracking and strength using an overlay tester, indirect tensile test, IDEAL-CT, and performance grades of associated binders. Binders will be extracted and recovered from laboratory-aged HMA specimens prepared as part of a previous UTEP study on HMA aging with varying percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), binder contents, mix types, aggregate sources, and additives. Even though the rutting and cracking performance of these specimens were thoroughly documented in the previous study, no rheological tests were conducted on the binders extracted from them. The present study will help understand the effect of HMA aging on changes in binder performance as a function of RAP percentage, aggregate quality, rejuvenator dosage and type, and asphalt content. The outcome of this project in terms of technology readiness can help with the modification of design guidelines to produce cost-effective and sustainable pavements that should safely last longer. The team will engage students from El Paso Community College and recruit a female graduate student to conduct this project.
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