Date of Graduation

5-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Civil Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Williams, Stacy G.

Committee Member

Hall, Kevin D.

Second Committee Member

Hale, W. Micah

Abstract

Foamed warm mix asphalt (WMA) is a technology that is beginning to be utilized across the United States. Often, producers are placing foamed WMA at decreased temperatures without fully understanding the properties of this relatively new product. By studying the volumetric properties of laboratory produced foamed WMA, this study sought to better understand the temperature sensitivity of foamed WMA and the potential factors that contribute to this sensitivity. Two mix designs containing primarily limestone aggregate were tested using differing binder grades. It was determined that binder grade, binder source and potentially the inclusion of recycled asphalt pavement all influence how sensitive a mixture will be to temperature changes. More specifically, this research concluded that foamed WMA using polymer modified binder is more sensitive to changes in temperature than binders that are not polymer modified. It was also determined that mixtures either have an optimum compaction temperature or a minimum allowable compaction temperature. For the first limestone mixture tested it was concluded that the compactability of the foamed WMA was maximized at a 50oF below hot mix asphalt (HMA) temperatures. For the second limestone mixture tested it was determined that temperature could be decreased a maximum of 50oF to still achieve adequate compaction. Research should continue in this area to determine if other performance properties are optimized at these temperatures.  

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