Uploaded May 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Asphalt - The Building Block of Modern Transportation
Since the conclusion of World War II, people have consistently desired efficient transportation methods. This desire for interconnectivity has driven engineers to constantly innovate new methods of building and maintaining roads and highways throughout the world. Continuing infrastructural leaps in the years since have improved the longevity, safety, and use of such highways and streets; however, asphalt (bitumen), the material used in such construction projects, has much room for improvement. Asphalt has a very high probability of cracking in extremely cold temperatures, and expands under high temperatures. These weaknesses of asphalt create the necessity to constantly resurface and replace asphalt roads, requiring a large amount of monetary and physical resources.
For many years now material engineers have been modifying asphalt with polymers in an attempt to combat these common challenges. Recently however, a new technique in creating a modified asphalt, known as Hot Mix Asphalt (HiMA), has been developed. Asphalt is generally a collection of hydrocarbons, which can be modified to increase the waterproofing aspects of roads, which will increase durability. Unfortunately, extreme temperatures can facilitate the cracking of this material. There are constant efforts to increase the temperature range at which asphalt functions without the threat of cracking, but the modification is much more complex due to the fact that it used to pave streets. Safety is a necessity, and the roads must respond correctly to constant wear, as well as extreme weather conditions. The process of enhancing asphalt is therefore very complicated, yet extremely important for future applications.
To further research such a topic it is important to understand how the processing-structure and property relationship of the HiMA and bitumen affect the creation of such key infrastructure. Key research issues in the materials process for the improvement of asphalt include how the polymers and chemical structure affect performance characteristics such as durability, tire wear, axle loads, along with how the materials are affected by degradation and consequential renovation.
Citations:
Lewandowski, Laurand. "Historical Performance of Polymer Modified Asphalt Pavements: Part 1." Goodyear Chemical. 23 June 2004. Web. 05 May 2014. petersenasphaltconference.org/download/2004/12Lewandowski.pdf
Newcomb David. "Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design -- Where are we headed?" Hot Mix Asphalt Technology. September/October 2004. Web. 05 May 2014. asphaltpavement.org/PDFs/mechanistic.pdf
Newcomb David. "Its Still Dirt, Rocks, and Asphalt -- Right?" Hot Mix Asphalt Technology. June 2002. Web. 05 May 2005. asphaltpavement.org/PDFs/mechdes3.pdf
Daly, William. Chiu Zhaoyao. "Characterization of the Microstructure of Asphalt, and Correlation with their Performance" Louisiana State University Department of Chemistry. Web. 05 May 2014. web.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/37_3_WASHINGTON%20DC_08-92_1329.pdf
Krishnan, Murali. "The physical and chemical structure of asphalt: with a brief history of their usage and availability." Department of Civil Engineering IIT Madras. 25 September 2006. Web. 05 May 2014. karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~prusv/ncmm/workshops/wog/download/krishnan/physicalAndChemicalStructureOfAsphalt.pdf
Websites:
asphaltpavement.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=41
pavementinteractive.org/article/asphalt-production-and-oil-refining
madehow.com/Volume-2/Asphalt-Cement.html
asphaltinstitute.org/dotAsset/994c6603-2181-4cbd-8601-9a120862237c.pdf
lloydminsterheavyoil.com/asphaltenes2.htm
dot.ca.gov/hq/maint/Pavement/Offices/Pavement_Engineering/PDF/pgb_faq.pdf
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/images/map-venezuela.png
hollyfrontier.com/files/57
truck-photos.net.s3.amazonaws.com/17078.jpg
h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/33489i00E75E737FAB5D11/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1
root.dealeron.com/assets/misc/4964/58088.JPG
openclipart.org/image/300px/svg_to_png/110065/thermometer.png
pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/Mvc-037s.jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Large_pot_hole_on_2nd_Avenue_in_New_York_City.JPG
pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Vacuumtower.jpg
pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Insidethelab.jpg
Asphalt - The Building Block of Modern Transportation
Since the conclusion of World War II, people have consistently desired efficient transportation methods. This desire for interconnectivity has driven engineers to constantly innovate new methods of building and maintaining roads and highways throughout the world. Continuing infrastructural leaps in the years since have improved the longevity, safety, and use of such highways and streets; however, asphalt (bitumen), the material used in such construction projects, has much room for improvement. Asphalt has a very high probability of cracking in extremely cold temperatures, and expands under high temperatures. These weaknesses of asphalt create the necessity to constantly resurface and replace asphalt roads, requiring a large amount of monetary and physical resources.
For many years now material engineers have been modifying asphalt with polymers in an attempt to combat these common challenges. Recently however, a new technique in creating a modified asphalt, known as Hot Mix Asphalt (HiMA), has been developed. Asphalt is generally a collection of hydrocarbons, which can be modified to increase the waterproofing aspects of roads, which will increase durability. Unfortunately, extreme temperatures can facilitate the cracking of this material. There are constant efforts to increase the temperature range at which asphalt functions without the threat of cracking, but the modification is much more complex due to the fact that it used to pave streets. Safety is a necessity, and the roads must respond correctly to constant wear, as well as extreme weather conditions. The process of enhancing asphalt is therefore very complicated, yet extremely important for future applications.
To further research such a topic it is important to understand how the processing-structure and property relationship of the HiMA and bitumen affect the creation of such key infrastructure. Key research issues in the materials process for the improvement of asphalt include how the polymers and chemical structure affect performance characteristics such as durability, tire wear, axle loads, along with how the materials are affected by degradation and consequential renovation.
Citations:
Lewandowski, Laurand. "Historical Performance of Polymer Modified Asphalt Pavements: Part 1." Goodyear Chemical. 23 June 2004. Web. 05 May 2014. petersenasphaltconference.org/download/2004/12Lewandowski.pdf
Newcomb David. "Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design -- Where are we headed?" Hot Mix Asphalt Technology. September/October 2004. Web. 05 May 2014. asphaltpavement.org/PDFs/mechanistic.pdf
Newcomb David. "Its Still Dirt, Rocks, and Asphalt -- Right?" Hot Mix Asphalt Technology. June 2002. Web. 05 May 2005. asphaltpavement.org/PDFs/mechdes3.pdf
Daly, William. Chiu Zhaoyao. "Characterization of the Microstructure of Asphalt, and Correlation with their Performance" Louisiana State University Department of Chemistry. Web. 05 May 2014. web.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/37_3_WASHINGTON%20DC_08-92_1329.pdf
Krishnan, Murali. "The physical and chemical structure of asphalt: with a brief history of their usage and availability." Department of Civil Engineering IIT Madras. 25 September 2006. Web. 05 May 2014. karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~prusv/ncmm/workshops/wog/download/krishnan/physicalAndChemicalStructureOfAsphalt.pdf
Websites:
asphaltpavement.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=41
pavementinteractive.org/article/asphalt-production-and-oil-refining
madehow.com/Volume-2/Asphalt-Cement.html
asphaltinstitute.org/dotAsset/994c6603-2181-4cbd-8601-9a120862237c.pdf
lloydminsterheavyoil.com/asphaltenes2.htm
dot.ca.gov/hq/maint/Pavement/Offices/Pavement_Engineering/PDF/pgb_faq.pdf
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/images/map-venezuela.png
hollyfrontier.com/files/57
truck-photos.net.s3.amazonaws.com/17078.jpg
h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/33489i00E75E737FAB5D11/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1
root.dealeron.com/assets/misc/4964/58088.JPG
openclipart.org/image/300px/svg_to_png/110065/thermometer.png
pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/Mvc-037s.jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Large_pot_hole_on_2nd_Avenue_in_New_York_City.JPG
pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Vacuumtower.jpg
pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Insidethelab.jpg
