CE 382 Asphalt Concrete
Fall 2015
Lecture 1 - Asphalt Cement Introduction
Learning Objectives
Understand the components of
asphalt concrete
Understand manufacturing asphalt
cement
Understand the types of asphalt
Understand asphalt specifications
Historical
Viscosity
Asphalt Concrete
Asphalt concrete is commonly
referred to as Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
94% of roads in US are surfaced
with asphalt
Materials
% by
weight
Aggregates
Asphalt
95
(Binder)
5
Air
HMA Components
Asphalt Stress Response
Two Types of Asphalt
Natural Asphalts: Occurs in
geologic strata as both soft and
hard asphalt material.
Petroleum Asphalts: Colloidally
dispersed hydrocarbons in crude
petroleum and are obtained by
Asphalt Legends and Myths
La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles
Canadian Tar Sands
Roofing Tar
Brother-in-law says he needs to Tar
his driveway
Myth Busted!
La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles
Canadian Tar Sands
Roofing Tar
Brother-in-law says he needs to Tar
his driveway
Asphalt versus Tar
Asphalt Cement (bitumen): Naturally
occurring or produced by petroleum
distillation
asphalt pavements
driveway sealcoats
roofing shingles
Tar: Naturally occurring or manufactured by
distillation of coal
Coal tar is listed at number 1999 in the United
Nations list of dangerous goods
Trinidad Lake Asphalt
Background
First US hot mix asphalt (HMA)
constructed in 1870s
Pennsylvania Ave
Used naturally occurring asphalt from
surface of lake on Island of Trinidad
Demand for paved roads exceeded the
supply of lake asphalts in late 1800s
Led to use of petroleum asphalts
Asphalt Components
Asphaltenes
Large, discrete solid inclusions (black)
High viscosity component
Resins
Semi-sold or solid at room temperature
Fluid when heated
Brittle when cold
Oils
Colorless liquid
Soluble in most solvents
Allows asphalt to flow
Petroleum Asphalt
Refinery Operations
Crude Petroleum Variation
Can vary significantly, resulting in very
different levels of performance.
American Petroleum Institute
API Gravity (60 F) = [141.5/specific gravity] 131.5
API Gravity of Water is 10.
Low API gravities (<25) have relatively low %s of
distillable overhead fractions & high %s of
asphalt cement. These crudes are known as
heavy crudes. If they contain a lot of sulfur, they
are known as sour.
High API gravities are the converse. Are known as
light crudes. If they contain little sulfur, they are
Asphalt Types
Asphalt cements
Generally refinery produced materials
Air blown asphalt cements
Cutbacks
Asphalt cements cut with petroleum
solvents
Emulsions
Mixture of asphalt cement, water, and
emulsifying agent
Air-Blowing
Air blowing is used to increase the
viscosity of the vacuum resids.
Used for roofing industry products (batch
blowing).
Used to improve the temperature
susceptibility of asphalt cements
(continuous blowing).
Oxidization is occurring.
Cutbacks = Asphalt +
Solvent
Rapid-Curing (RC):
naptha
Gasoline or
High volatility of solvent
Tack coats, surface treatments
Medium-Curing (MC): Kerosene
Moderate volatility
Stockpile patching mix
Slow Curing (SC):
Road oils
Low volatility
Prime coat, dust control
Emulsions = Asphalt + H20 + Emulsifying
agent
Emulsifier gives surface charge to asphalt
droplets suspended in water medium
Selection of emulsifier type is dependent
upon aggregate used (electrical charge)
Asphalt Emulsions are needed to set or
break
Anionic Emulsion (-)
Emulsion (+)
Cationic
Asphalt Distributor (for
emulsions)
Grades of Emulsions
ANIONIC EMULSIFIED
ASPHALT
RS-1
RS-2
MS-1
MS-2
MS-2h
HFMS-1
HFMS-2
HFMS-2h
HFMS-2s
SS-1
SS-1h
CATIONIC EMULSIFIED
ASPHALT
CRS-1
CRS-2
--CMS-2
CMS-2h
--------CSS-1
CSS-1h
Early Specifications
Chew test
Penetration
Solubility
Ductility
Flash Point
Softening Point (Ring-and-Ball
Method)
Specific Gravity
Penetration (early 1900s)
Pen Grades
Flash Point (Cleveland Open
Cup)
Solubility Test
Ductility
Measure of a materials ability to undergo
deformation without breaking.
Thin Film Oven
Pan
Thermometer
Rotating Shelf
Outside of Oven
Penetration, 0.1 mm
Medium
Low
High
25C (77F)
Temperature
Softening Point (Ring-and-Ball
Method)
The temperature at which the bituminous
material touches the bottom of the
Viscosity Graded Specifications
(1970s)
Definition
Viscosity: the ratio between the applied
shear stress and the rate of shear.
Absolute and Kinematic
Viscosity
Absolute
Viscosity at 60C
Time required for a fixed volume of
liquid to be drawn through a capillary
tube with a vacuum.
(flow time) x (viscometer calibration)
= poises
Kinematic
Viscosity at 135C
Measured in cm2/sec = stokes
(centistokes)
Types of Viscosity
Viscosity Specifications
AC Grades
AC 2.5, AC 5, AC 10, AC 20, AC 40
AR Grades (Aged Residue)
AR 1000, AR 2000, AR 4000, AR 8000,
AR 16000
Mixing/Compaction
Temps
Viscosity, Pa s
10
5
1
.5
.3
.2
.1
Compaction Range
Mixing Range
100
110
120
130
140
150 160
Temperature, C
170 180 190 200
Rotational Viscometer
Pumpabilit
y
Mixability
Workabilit
y
Pavement Performance
Related to A.C. Rheological
Properties
Ravelling
Cracking
Load-Associated
Non-Load Associated
Rutting
Stripping
Temperature Dependency
Superpave Physical Tests
for Asphalt Binders
Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO)
Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV)
Rotational Viscometer (RV)
Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR)
Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR)
Direct Tension Tester (DTT)
