Grant: Alliance Grants

To address the ever-increasing demands on high quality paving materials, modern asphalt pavements rely on the modification technologies to improve their engineering properties. The most successful modification technology nowadays is through incorporation of macromolecular materials (polymers), but also other types of additives. The modification technologies for production of engineered asphalts pavements are designed by trial and error.The proposed five-year research, outlined in the research objectives below, will be centered on the development of predictive rules and models.1. New materials and technologies for production of asphalt bindersa) materials and techniques - design and production of selected modified asphaltsb) characterization of modified asphalts during and after their preparation phase2. Characterization of conventional, air-blown, and modified asphalt binders in paving mixesa) characterization of asphalt binders at high service temperatures, selection of tests and parameters best correlating with their performance in paving mixesb) investigation of available and potential new characterization of asphalt binders at low service temperatures and their correlation with the low temperature cracking resistance of paving mixesThe outlined research program will be performed by graduate and internship students with support by the professional staff in the topnotch laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment. Every Canadian will benefit from the formulated environmental, health, technical and economic goals which will be answered in this research program. The training of highly qualified personnel for industry, academia and government bodies will also be the main outcome of the research program.