Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Investigation of Low Temperature Cracking in Asphalt Pavements - Phase II

Low temperature cracking is the most prevalent distress found in asphalt pavements built in cold weather climates. As the temperature drops the restrained pavement tries to shrink. The tensile stresses build up to a critical point at which a crack is formed. Thermal cracks can be initiated by a single low temperature event or by multiple warming and cooling cycles and then propagated by further low temperatures or traffic loadings.

The current Superpave specification attempts to address this issue by Winter Scenespecifying a limiting low temperature for asphalt binders. However, the first phase of this project made it clear that testing asphalt mixtures is necessary to accurately predict low temperature cracking performance in the field. Furthermore, the testing must include more sophisticated techniques based on fracture mechanics rather than the current practice of stiffness and strength testing.

To this end, a comprehensive research effort is underway led by Dr. Mihai Marasteanu at the University of Minnesota. This project is a unique partnership between MnDOT and four universities: University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, and University of Wisconsin at Madison. This project is using an integrated approach of laboratory mixture fracture testing, sophisticated modeling, and field evaluation to develop a low temperature cracking specification for asphalt mixtures. This pooled fund study will result in a tool that can be used by the 7 partner sponsors to select the optimal materials resistant to thermal cracking.

Work Plan

Implementation Update

Reports and Publications

Presentations

September 2012 TAP Meeting

October 2011 TAP Meeting

November 2010 TAP Meeting

  • University of Minnesota Update
  • UIUC Update

January Pavement Club Meeting 2010

November 2009 TAP Meeting

  • University of Minnesota Update
  • UIUC Update
  • UW Update

November 2009 LTC Meeting

  • University of Illinois Update

Previous Research

Pooled Fund Study Website