PURPOSES : This study evaluates the long-term performance of the asphalt overlay designed by the Seoul pavement design method which determines overlay thickness by considering existing pavement conditions, traffic volume, and bearing capacity of the pavement. METHODS : A total of 76 sections including 17 control sections and 59 design sections were constructed under various traffic conditions, overlay thicknesses and asphalt mixtures. The performance of the pavements has been monitored up to 60 months in terms of surface distresses, rutting, and longitudinal roughness. The service life of the pavements was estimated to be the period when the Seoul pavement condition index (SPI) becomes 6.0, i.e., a rehabilitation level. RESULTS : Overall, the service life of the pavements was 72 months in the control and 120 months for the design sections. For relatively thinner overlay sections than designed, the service life reduced significantly; 36 months for 15cm thick overlay and 120 months for 25cm thick overlay. The service life of the pavement in the bus-only lane was 78 months, which is 30 months shorter than that in mixed-traffic lanes. Out of the bus-only lanes, 56% of the pavement along bus stop was deteriorated early to be a poor condition while only 2% of the pavement in a driving lane was degraded to be poor. The overlay with Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) in the wearing surface had 38% longer life than that with conventional dense graded mixtures. CONCLUSIONS : Most of the overlays sections designed by the Seoul pavement design method were expected to survive 10 years, except for bus-only lanes. The control sections having 5 to 10 cm thick overlays showed significant lower performance than the design sections. Thus proper thickness and materials considering the characteristics of existing pavement and traffic volumes should be applied to secure the service life of overlays.

PURPOSES : This study was conducted to evaluate the physical properties of micro-foamed asphalt binders. Surfactants and water-soluble anti-stripping agent were used to improve the performance of the foamed asphalt binder, and a domestically developed foamed asphalt generator was used for the micro-foamed asphalt binder. The results of this study can be used as technical data for the domestic application of foamed asphalt technology. METHODS : To evaluate the physical properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder, basic properties such as penetration, viscosity, softening point, and ductility were evaluated. Additionally, DSR and BBR tests were performed to confirm the change in the performance grade of the micro-formed asphalt binder when using surfactants, water-soluble anti-stripping agent, and water. RESULTS : Of the results of evaluating the physical properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder containing surfactant confirmed that the kinematic viscosity was reduced by 12.5% compared with the straight asphalt binder, which indirectly confirmed that compaction is possible even at low temperatures when producing the asphalt mixture. In addition, the PG grade of straight asphalt and micro-foamed asphalt binder was PG 64-22. This result indicates that surfactants, water-soluble anti-stripping agent, and water did not significantly affect the PG grade of the asphalt binder. CONCLUSIONS : The properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder were confirmed through the evaluation of the physical and rheological properties of the foamed asphalt binder to which the surfactant and water-soluble anti-stripping agent were applied, and we determined that it can be used as a technical material for the revitalization of Korean foamed asphalt technology.

PURPOSES : The surface distress of asphalt pavements is one of the major factors affecting the safety of road users. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of surface distress and statistically predict its annual change to contribute to more reasonable asphalt pavement management using the data periodically collected by the national highway pavement data management system. METHODS : In this study, the factors that were expected to influence the surface distress were determined by reviewing the literature. The normality was secured by changing the forms of the variables to make the distribution of the variables got closer to normal distribution. In addition, min-max normalization was performed to minimize the effect of the unit and magnitude of the candidate independent variables on the dependent variable. The final candidate independent variables were determined by analyzing the correlation between the annual surface distress change and each candidate independent variable. In addition, a prediction model was developed by performing data grouping and multi-regression analysis. RESULTS : An annual surface distress change prediction model was developed using present surface distress, age, and below 0 ℃ days as the independent variables. As a result of sensitivity analysis, the surface distress affected the annual surface distress change the most. The positive correlation between the dependent variable and each independent variable demonstrated engineering and statistical meaningfulness of the prediction model. CONCLUSIONS : The surface distress in the future can be predicted by applying the annual surface distress prediction model to the national highway asphalt pavement sections with survey data. In addition, the prediction model can be applied to the national highway pavement condition index (NHPCI) evaluating the national highway asphalt pavement conditions to be used in the prediction of future NHPCI.

PURPOSES : This study compared the performance evaluation of a hot mix asphalt (HMA) and asphalt mixture of a warm-antistrip agent. METHODS : A mix design applying Korean standards was conducted to evaluate the performance evaluation. Thereafter, the quality standard evaluation of the asphalt mixture produced was conducted, and if all quality standards were satisfied, a performance evaluation was conducted. Types of performance evaluation included the Hamburg wheel tracking test and dynamic modulus test. RESULTS : As a result of the Hamburg wheel tracking test, the asphalt mixture with a warm-antistrip agent obtained a lower sedimentation value at 10000 times and 20000 times. This result is considered to have higher plastic deformation resistance of the asphalt mixture with a Warm-antistrip agent than HMA. The U.S. Department of Transportation stipulates that plastic deformation resistance is excellent if the asphalt mixture does not exceed 20,000 times the precipitate of 20 mm. Therefore, we confirmed that the plastic deformation resistance of the asphalt mixture with a warm-antistrip agent was excellent. Additionally, the master curve was analyzed by synthesizing the results of the dynamic modulus test. When analyzing the low load cycle at the bottom left of the master curve, the dynamic modulus value of the master curve was higher in the asphalt mixture with a warm-antistrip agent than in the HMA. In addition, when analyzing the high load cycle part, the dynamic modulus of the HMA was measured to be higher than that of the asphalt mixture with a warm-antistrip agent. Accordingly, the resistance to fatigue cracking of the asphalt mixture with a warm-antistrip agent was considered superior to that of the HMA. CONCLUSIONS : As a result, we confirmed that the asphalt mixture with a warm-antistrip agent that satisfies the Korean quality standards had better plastic deformation and fatigue resistance for all performance evaluation tests conducted in this study than the HMA. However, since the Hamburg wheel tracking test did not significantly differ in the amount of sedimentation in the performance evaluation tests and the mixture using one additive was compared with HMA, studies on the effects of various additives containing warm-antistrip agents are required.

Asphalt concrete(Ascon) is used to repair potholes and cracks. Special truck-mounted cargo boxes transport 200℃ asphalt concrete to repair potholes and cracks. However, long working and transportation hours to repair wide roads decrease the temperature of the asphalt concrete inside the cargo boxes. If the asphalt concrete temperature drops below 170℃, the adhesion with roads that need repair decreases. Therefore, the temperature of the asphalt concrete needs to be maintained for a long time. Conventional asphalt concrete cargo boxes are mostly burner-type models using hot air to prevent the temperature of the asphalt concrete from dropping. However, there are significant temperature differences between the asphalt concrete near and far away from the hot air, so the temperature decreases over time and leads to the disposal of large amounts of asphalt concrete. This causes waste of resources and environmental pollution. Therefore, this study proposed a heat dissipation cut-off type cargo box model to solve this problem and demonstrated its performance over conventional burner-type models through tests and analysis.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to identify a gradation control method that minimizes the volatility of recycled aggregates to maintain the quality of reclaimed asphalt mixtures. METHODS : In this study, two types (0~13 and 0~10 mm) of recycled aggregate stockpiles with an extraction viscosity of 40,000 poise and a 19 mm hot asphalt mixture with virgin aggregates are used. The test methods are evaluated for plastic deformation resistance using the Hamburg wheel-tracking test and for low-temperature crack resistance using the dynamic modulus test. In the field, the performance is evaluated via an accelerated pavement test. RESULTS : The Hamburg wheel-tracking test shows good water resistance as well as less than 5 mm of deformation. The result of a dynamic modulus test at -5 °C shows a 92.9% low-temperature crack resistance as compared with that of the 19 mm dense grade hot-mix asphalt mixture. The result of the accelerated pavement test confirms that the performances of the 19 mm dense grade hot-mix asphalt mixture and reclaimed asphalt mixture are equal owing a 1.2 cm plastic deformation. CONCLUSIONS : By evaluating the plastic deformation resistance and crack resistance of the reclaimed asphalt mixture based on a stockpile gradation controlled at 0~10 mm via an indoor test, it is discovered that the plastic deformation resistance increases partially, whereas the crack resistance remains almost unchanged. The accelerated pavement test confirms that a performance equivalent to that of a 19 mm dense grade hot-mix asphalt mixture is achieved.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to evaluate an asphalt mixture via field application to utilize basalt aggregates produced on Jeju Island for a warm mix asphalt (WMA). METHODS : Using commercially available WMA additives, an indoor experiment is conducted on low- and high-void aggregates among basalt aggregates on Jeju Island. The physical properties of the WMA mixture are evaluated using one solid type and two liquid types of WMA additive. To evaluate the applicability of the WMA additives, air void, saturation, aggregate void, Marshall stability, flow number, indirect tensile strength, and toughness tests are performed. For the field application of WMA using basalt aggregates, three types of pavements (HMA, WMA-Solid, and WMA-liquid) are constructed. When applying the pavements in the field, an anti-stripping agent is incorporated to improve the water resistance while considering the characteristics of the basalt aggregate. Samples are acquired via plant and field coring to evaluate the properties of the materials applied in the field. RESULTS : In the indoor test for analyzing the applicability of the commercialized WMA additives to basalt aggregates, all tests except the indirect tensile strength test show results that satisfy the standards. All test results, including that from the indirect tensile strength test, satisfy the standard values in the test that uses the sample material obtained from the plant. Similarly, in the test with field cores, all test results satisfy the standard values. Therefore, the experimental value in the field application is generally higher than the test value in the indoor experiment. It is inferred that this is due to the difference between the basalt aggregates used in the indoor and field experiments, as well as the addition of the anti-stripping agent. CONCLUSIONS : Basalt aggregates produced on Jeju Island can be used for WMA pavements, as demonstrated via indoor experiments and field applications. However, owing to the characteristics of basalt aggregates, a method for improving water resistance should be considered, and tests to determine the indirect tensile strength should be performed using various basalt aggregates. In addition, because various basalt aggregates exist owing to the diverse geology characteristics of Jeju Island, they should be evaluated via more experiments and field applications.

This work reveals a modified method for the preparation of activated carbon (P-ACA) using low-cost materials (mix natural asphalt: polypropylene waste). The P-ACA was prepared at 600 °C by assisting KOH and HF. The morphological variations and chemical species of the P-ACA were characterized using SEM–EDX and FTIR. The active surface area, density and ash content of the P-ACA were also investigated. Adsorption properties of P-ACA were used for the thermodynamic and kinetic study of 4-((2-hydroxy naphthalenyl) diazenyl) antipyrine (HNDA), which was prepared as a novel azo dye in this work. The optimal conditions (initial concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature) of the adsorption process were determined. Adsorption isotherms (Freundlich and Langmuir) were applied to the experimental data. These isothermal constants were used to describe the nature of the adsorption system, and the type of interaction between the dye and the P-ACA surface. The results have indicated that the mixture (Natural asphalt-polypropylene waste) is efficient for the synthesis of P-ACA. The synthesized P-ACA demonstrates the presence of pores on the surface with various diameter ranges (from 1.4 to 4.5 μm). Furthermore, P-ACA exhibits an active surface area of 1230 m2 g−1, and shows a high adsorption capacity for HNDA.

PURPOSES : Graphene nanoplates, which have recently been in the spotlight in various fields, are a layer of graphite used in pencil leads, with carbon arranged in hexagonal honeycomb shapes. The graphene is 0.2 nanometers thick, and it possesses high physical and chemical stability, high strength, and conductivity. These graphene nanoplates have been studied for application in various devices such as semiconductors and batteries, and in the construction sector, where they are used as additives to improve the durability of cement concrete. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical, and functional properties of graphene-modified asphalt mixtures. METHODS : In this study, the graphene input content of asphalt mixture samples was determined using an asphalt performance grade (PG) test. Based on the results of the test, their strength, stiffness, thermal properties, and electrical conductivity were evaluated. Indirect tensile strength test and dynamic modulus (DM) test were conducted to evaluate the strength and stiffness, and thermal conductivity tests and electrical conductivity evaluations were conducted for determining the functionality of the graphene-modified asphalt mixtures. The thermal conduction test was used to measure the external temperature change over time by placing a general heated asphalt mixture and graphene-modified asphalt with the same raw material-specific mixing ratio inside the temperature chamber in order to measure the heat conductivity. The electrical conductivity was evaluated using a digital multimeter to measure the resistance of DC voltage and DC current via a 4-probe method. RESULTS : The performance grade (PG) test results showed that, for a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), both tests met the baseline and that physical changes in the binder did not appear evident with graphene addition. Furthermore, each content met the baseline for the bending beam rheometer (BBR). The increasing ratio of flexural creep stiffness approached the maximum when 7.5% graphene was used. In indirect tensile strength test, an average of thrice the indirect tensile strength for graphene-modified asphalt was 0.92 N/mm2, which was approximately 0.04 N/mm2 higher than the average measured three times that of hot mix asphalt mixture, with the same raw material mixing ratio. In the thermal conduction tests, the temperature and the rate of change of temperature of the graphene-modified asphalt mixture were higher than those of the hot-mix asphalt mixture. Lastly, the results of the electric conductivity test using the 4-probe method showed that the electrical conductivity increased slightly as the graphene content increased, but overall, it showed very low electrical conductivity. CONCLUSIONS : In this study, the potential for enhancing the physical and functional performance of graphene nanoplates applied to asphalt mixtures was demonstrated. However, it is practically difficult to arrange graphene particles continuously within an asphalt mixture, which is believed to have very low electrical conductivity.

PURPOSES : In this study, we aimed to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of asphalt mixtures by water saturation. METHODS : On the basis of the literature review, the heat transfer characteristics of the samples were analyzed using a thermal accumulation experiment. The types of samples used were WC2 (dense asphalt mixture), ReWC2 (used 30% recycled aggregate), and PA13 (drainage asphalt mixture). The samples were compacted using a gyratory compactor. An infrared lamp simulating insolation was used to continuously heat the asphalt sample. Through this experiment, the upper and lower temperatures and heat flux of the specimen according to its thickness and condition were measured, and the change in its thermal conductivity was analyzed. RESULTS : The results of the laboratory experiment indicated that the dry sample showed lower thermal conductivity than the saturated sample. The amount of evaporation varied depending on the internal pores of the sample. Additionally, the amount of evaporation changed the heat transfer characteristics of the specimen. CONCLUSIONS : An asphalt mixture with high porosity decreased the degree of increase in thermal conductivity, compared to mixtures with low porosity, under semi-saturated conditions; this was attributed to the difference in thermal conductivity between air and water during saturation. The results of this study on the heat transfer characteristics of asphalt pavements could be used as basic data for thermal energy harvesting of asphalt pavements.

PURPOSES : Rut depth of asphalt pavements is a major factor that affects the maintenance of pavements as well as the safety of drivers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing rut depth, using data collected periodically on national highways by the pavement management system and, consequently, predict annual rut depth change, to contribute to improved asphalt pavement management. METHODS : The factors expected to influence rut depth were determined by reviewing relevant literature, and collecting the related data. Further, the correlations between the annual rut depth change and the influencing factors were analyzed. Subsequently, the annual rut depth change model was developed by performing regression analysis using age, present rut depth, and annual average maximum temperature as independent variables. RESULTS : From the sensitivity analysis of the developed model, it was found that age affected the annual rut depth change the most. Additionally, the relationship between the dependent and independent variables was statistically significant. The model developed in this study could reasonably predict the change in the rut depth of the national highway asphalt pavements. CONCLUSIONS : In summary, it was verified that the model developed in this study could be used to predict the change in the National Highway Pavement Condition Index (NHPCI), which represents comprehensive conditions of national highway pavements. Development of other models that predict changes in surface distress as well as international roughness index is required to predict the change in NHPCI, as they are the independent variables of the NHPCI prediction model.

PURPOSES : This study aims at evaluating the use of an electromagnetic density gauge (EDG) to measure the in situ density and air-void content of asphalt concrete (AC) pavement. METHODS : In situ AC pavement density and air-void readings were obtained from two sites (Daegu and Ulsan) using an EDG. Calibration of the EDG was conducted by first obtaining density values at three different positions, on each pavement where core samples were extracted afterward. The core samples were then tested to obtain laboratory density and air-void values. The density measured using the EDG was then subtracted from the laboratory values to obtain the offset calibration values, which were then adopted to calibrate the in situ measurements using the EDG. Moreover, to analyze the effect of moisture on the pavement surface, EDG measurements were conducted under dry and wet conditions to compare the in-situ readings. RESULTS : The in-situ density readings of AC tend to be higher in moist/wet conditions. By applying the calibration value to the EDG readings, the density error percentage was reduced from 0.61% to 0.096%, and 0.64% to 0.16% for Daegu and Ulsan sites, respectively. Consequently, the air-void content error percentage was reduced from 12.8% to 1.04%, and from 10.07% to 1.78% for Daegu and Ulsan sites, respectively. CONCLUSIONS : The electromagnetic density gauge (EDG) is an effective tool for the non-destructive measurement of in situ pavement density. By applying offset calibration values, the error in the field readings was reduced, and the accuracy of the EDG measurements was improved.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study was to evaluate newly developed Guss mastic asphalt with polymer modifier as a elastomer and a plastomer in to polymer content. METHODS : As polymer modifiers, 10%, 20% of elastomer and 10%, 20% of plastomer, and 10% of elastomer and 10% of plastomer are all added to the binder, and the physical properties of the Guss mastic asphalt mixture with these binders are changed. The properties of mixtures with workability, penetration depth and dynamic stability were compared with the existing Guss mastic asphalt mixture. RESULTS : When using the elastomer and the plastomer, the dynamic stability of the Guss mastic asphalt mixture was improved compared to the conventional asphalt mixture, and when the amount of the elastomer was 20%, the workability was reduced. In addition, when 10% of the elastomer and 10% of the plastomer were used, the workability was not significantly deteriorated and the dynamic stability was increased. CONCLUSIONS : In order to improve the dynamic stability of the Guss mastic asphalt mixture using the polymer-modified binder, it is effective to use an elastomer and a plaststomer.

PURPOSES : This study aims to develop drainage minor-structure materials using asphalt mixtures, and to apply construction methods. METHODS : The AP-5, 120-150A, and 150-200A binders were adopted to select the optimal asphalt binder for the domestic application of asphalt concrete in curb construction. The mixture design of asphalt mixtures has applied the standard for evaluating asphalt curb mixtures in Korea. Test construction utilized asphalt curb equipment to evaluate asphalt mixtures, according to the type of asphalt binder. RESULTS : The results of the asphalt mixture design indicated that the optimum asphalt content was determined at 2–3% air void for each type of asphalt binder, and the quality of the asphalt mixture applied with asphalt curb binder was excellent. In addition, the quality difference was significant, depending on the temperature of the asphalt mixture at each phase of the asphalt curb construction. CONCLUSIONS : Asphalt curb construction using asphalt materials has a large impact on the quality, depending on the temperature of the asphalt mixture, therefore management at the appropriate temperature is important when applying it to the site. Further research is also required on the production, transportation, and dedicated equipment of asphalt mixtures.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the newly developed Guss mastic asphalt mixtures, called EQ-mastic asphalt mixtures, which contain melted additives for decreasing cooking time. METHODS : A series of experiments were performed to investigate the effectiveness of the melted additives in EQ-mastic asphalt mixtures. Both the existing Guss mastic asphalt mixture and the EQ-mastic asphalt mixture were produced with the same amounts of asphalt binders, aggregates, and fillers, but the existing Guss mastic asphalt mixture contained 3% Trinidad lake asphalt (TLA). The EQ-mastic asphalt mixture contained 3% of additives, including TLA and polyolefin. The physical material performances of both mastic asphalt mixtures were obtained by conducting the Luer fluidity test, penetration test, dynamic stability test, and low-temperature bending test. The results of the tests for the existing Guss mastic and EQ-mastic asphalt mixtures were compared. RESULTS : The fluidity, penetration, dynamic stability, and low-temperature bending strains of both the existing Guss mastic and EQmastic asphalt mixtures all satisfied the standard values provided in the production and construction guides of the Guss mastic asphalt pavement. CONCLUSIONS : When melted additives containing polyolefin are used in the production of Guss mastic asphalt mixtures, the cooking time decreases, so that the corresponding energy consumption and asphalt fume amount can be reduced. Therefore, an EQ-mastic asphalt mixture is proposed for use as an eco-friendly pavement material.