SUPERPAVE SYSTEM – CONTEMPORARY APPROACH TO ASPHALT MIXTURES DESIGN
Due to increase in traffic loads, unfavorable weather and climatic factors and the deterioration of road construction materials quality, there is a need for changing the approaches to asphalt mixtures design and setting the requirements for materials depending on their performance in road pavement.
A system for the design of asphalt mixtures (SUPERPAVE) had been developed at the end of the 90s of the last century in the United States. This system established a new concept of requirements for bituminous binders and mineral material, new methods and devices for their testing, a new method for the mix design and evaluation of its technical properties. SUPERPAVE system has already triggered the changes in asphalt technology in the US and produces an appreciable effect on it in other countries.
Taking into account difficult weather and climatic conditions for asphalt performance and heavy traffic loads, the introduction of SUPERPAVE in Ukraine would allow selecting the bituminous binder and fulfilling the asphalt design while taking into consideration these factors that would lead to better quality and duraillity of roads. However,the current knowledge about the SUPERPAVE system in Ukraine is insufficient including the lack of the required laboratory equipment.
In order to obtain theoretical and practical knowledge about design of asphalt concrete by SUPERPAVE system, the specialists of DerzhdorNDI SE –Ivan Kopynets, Head of Road Building Materials Department and Pavlo Malii, Head of Asphalt Concrete Laboratory were trained at the Institut für Baustoff-Qualitätssicherung GmbH (Remseck am Neckar, Germany).
During the training, a considerable attention was paid to determination of performance characteristics of bituminous binders using the dynamic shear rheometer and the rheometer with bending beam, forecasting the durability of bituminous binders using the devices for determination of technological and operational aging of bituminous binders, technological properties of bituminous binders, as well as the design and testing of asphalt concrete.
Hope that obtained knowledge will allow introducing the SUPERPAVE system of asphalt design in Ukraine in future, and thus, promote improving the quality and durability of highways.
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