Economic Evaluation of Long-Life Pavements

 

Description

Phase I of the study analysed the prospects for the development of an economic basis of longer-life wearing-courses for heavily-trafficked roads. A number of promising pavement materials were identified warranting further investigation. Phase II of the project coordinated testing by national testing laboratories to assess the durability of the wearing courses. This involved small-scale testing (laboratory testing and accelerated load testing) of the most promising pavement materials.

The proposed Phase III will coordinate full scale field trials of epoxy asphalts and high cementitious materials on heavily trafficked roads.

Tasks completed in Phase II

  • Design and Laboratory Testing

    Technical properties tested include: strength, stiffness, water-tightness, bond strength, compatibility, workability, resistance to shear and dynamic actions, resistance to stone polishing, resistance to heat impact, release of dangerous substances, aggregate properties, freeze-thaw durability, fire resistance, capacity to bridge cracks, retention of those characteristics after exposure to chemicals, weathering, light, etc. Wearing courses were tested under loading that might reflect possible future changes in policy or demand - such as in mass limits or traffic mix. This allowed comparisons with the performance of typical materials used today.
  • Environmental Tests

    Working environment testing addressed: leaching from and wear of the pavements surfaces during the service life, noise reduction potential, capacity for recycling, potential for using by-products like plastic and rubber waste.
  • Accelerated Load Testing and Construction Technology and Methods

    After the laboratory testing, a limited number of the more promised materials were subjected to medium- and large-scale accelerated load testing, e.g. in smaller wheel tracking devices and/or full-scale outdoor test track facilities. Before, during and after testing the specimens/slabs for the larger scale, devices were tested with regard to functional properties like friction, evenness, wear, noise properties, degree of cracking, bond to substrate, etc. For application on longer road sections new construction equipment and methods were developed in order to secure a low price and satisfactory quality. Surface preparation, time required for construction, weather restrictions, curing conditions and hardening period before trafficking were therefore also assessed.
  • Evaluation of Results and Policy-Related Questions

    Results compared with expectations and outcomes detailed in Phase I. Results evaluated on technical grounds as well as in terms of the impacts of possible future changes in road operating environments.
  • Results

    The results are presented for policy-makers in an executive summary. A full report will be published in 2008.
  • Participants

    Phase 2 of the project was undertaken by national laboratories between 2004 and 2007 under the chairmanship of Jorgen Christensen (Denmark).

    The following countries participated in the study:
    Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.

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