ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.
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- All Subjects: Transportation
- Creators: Ozer, Hasan
Description
Differences in climatic conditions, aircraft traffic, and maintenance practices drive airfield pavements to perform differently. Through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) PAVEAIR online database and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) online public platform, historical pavement condition and climate data from nearly 200 airfields in the dry freeze (DF), dry no-freeze (DNF), wet freeze (WF), and wet no-freeze (WNF) climatic regions were collected to evaluate pavement performance and distress trends. This research details the methodologies employed in the PAVEAIR pavement inspection data retrieval and dataset organization, and further presents the results of a two-part analysis. First, rate of deterioration (ROD) of various pavement families were evaluated by fitting a linear regression to the pavement condition index (PCI). Then, historical distresses data were analyzed for various pavement families in the different climatic regions. Families were assigned with respect to climate, pavement structure (conventional asphalt or asphalt overlays), and branch type (apron, taxiway, and runway).
The regression results showed that pavements in the WF region have the highest ROD, followed by the pavements in the DNF region. In terms of branch type, in three of four climatic regions, aprons have the fastest rate of deterioration, followed by taxiways and runways, respectively. The distress analytics revealed that cracking type of distresses were the most common in all the regions regardless of the pavement family.
The results showed that climatic data alone were not adequate to characterize airfield pavement behavior due to the multivariate factors affecting pavement deterioration. An accurate pavement and distress prediction modeling effort should at least include additional information on the structure and traffic level.
ContributorsDuah, Ebenezer (Author) / Ozer, Hasan (Thesis advisor) / Kaloush, Kamil E (Committee member) / Mamlouk, Michael S (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021
Description
Thin overlays are favored by local agencies due to their ability to extend the pavement'slifespan and enhance ride quality. However, the low thickness of thin overlays presents
some inherent challenges. The use of conventional mixes for constructing thin overlays has
led to numerous premature failures, primarily due to the relationship between compaction,
the Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (NMAS), and lift thickness.
The current study's objective was to utilize a balanced mix design to enhance the quality
of mixes used by local agencies by developing two new dense-graded mixes and one Stone
Matrix Asphalt (SMA) mix. Local mixes were collected and studied, working closely with
industry experts. This research work aimed to identify the performance characteristics of
commonly used mixes, optimize these mixes, and design new mixes that better suit their
intended application, thereby prolonging the life of overlays.
The findings indicated that while the current mix designs are fundamentally wellstructured, they are not appropriate for the given application due to the unsuitability of a
12.5 mm NMAS for mix designs below 38 mm, especially considering that most overlays
are less than that. The results also showed that the current mixes are already optimized in
terms of cracking and rutting resistance.
Three new mixes with 9.5 mm NMAS aggregates and SBS modified binder were
designed. These include two dense-graded mixes using PG 76-22 SBS and PG 70-28 SBS
modified binders, and one SMA mix utilizing the PG 76-22 SBS modified binder. All theseii
mixes demonstrated better cracking properties compared to commonly used mixtures.
While their rutting properties were either comparable or occasionally inferior but meeting
the rutting criteria.
Based on these findings, it can be proposed that the use of a 9.5 mm NMAS mix
improves compaction and compatibility with lift thickness. Additionally, these mixes
reduce susceptibility to cracking and extend service life of the overlay. To get a superior
overlay mix, SMA can be employed as it had 2.5 times better CT Index compared to the
conventional 12.5 mm mix.
ContributorsHasan, Morshed Washif (Author) / Kaloush, Kamil E (Thesis advisor) / Noorvand, Hossein (Thesis advisor) / Ozer, Hasan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023
Description
Thermal susceptibility is one of the biggest challenges that asphalt pavements must overcome. Asphalt mixture’s thermal susceptibility can increase problems related to permanent deformation, and the expansion-contraction phenomenon triggers thermal cracking. Furthermore, there is a common worldwide interest in environmental impacts and pavements. Saving energy and mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect have been drawing the attention of researchers, governments, and industrial organizations. Pavements have been shown to play an important role in the UHI effect. Globally, about 90% of roadways are made of asphalt mixtures. The main objective of this research study involves the development and testing of an innovative aerogel-based product in the modification of asphalt mixtures to function as a material with unique thermal resistance properties, and potentially providing an urban cooling mechanism for the UHI. Other accomplishments included the development of test procedures to estimate the thermal conductivity of asphalt binders, the expansion-contraction of asphalt mixtures, and a computational tool to better understand the pavement’s thermal profile and stresses. Barriers related to the manufacturing and field implementation of the aerogel-based product were overcome. Unmodified and modified asphalt mixtures were manufactured at an asphalt plant to build pavement slabs. Thermocouples installed at top and bottom collected data daily. This data was valuable in understanding the temperature fluctuation of the pavement. Also, the mechanical properties of asphalt binders and mixtures with and without the novel product were evaluated in the laboratory. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were also used to understand the interaction of the developed product with bituminous materials.
The modified pavements showed desirable results in reducing overall pavement temperatures and suppressing the temperature gradient, a key to minimize thermal cracking. The comprehensive laboratory tests showed favorable outcomes for pavement performance. The use of a pavement design software, and life cycle/cost assessment studies supported the use of this newly developed technology. Modified pavements would perform better than control in distresses related to permanent deformation and thermal cracking; they reduce tire/pavement noise, require less raw material usage during their life cycle, and have lower life cycle cost compared to conventional pavements.
ContributorsObando Gamboa, Carlos Javier (Author) / Kaloush, Kamil (Thesis advisor) / Mamlouk, Michael (Committee member) / Ozer, Hasan (Committee member) / Fini, Elham (Committee member) / Zapata, Claudia (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
Description
United States Air Force airfield PAVER pavement management system enterprise data was reviewed for 67 networks. The distress survey extents and severity fields were joined with treatment costs estimated using RSMeans to determine the costliest distress. In asphalt surfaced pavements Longitudinal/transverse cracking, weathering, and block cracking resulted in the most pavement condition index (PCI) deducts while the costliest distresses are weathering, block cracking and longitudinal cracking. In portland cement concrete surfaced pavements linear cracking, joint seal damage, and joint spalling resulted in the most PCI deducts while the costliest distresses are joint seal damage, linear cracking, and corner spalling. The results of this data were then compared to airfield attributes: Pavement Temperature Group, Dominant American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Soil Classification, Pavement- Transportation Computer Assisted Structural Engineering (PCASE) Climate Zone, and years since last maintenance. Maps showing the Pavement Temperature Group, Dominant AASHTO Soil Classification, and PCASE Climate Zone are included in Appendix A. Alligator cracking is most prevalent at the airfields with PTG 64-34 (Ellsworth, Fairchild, Hill, and Offutt) and 58-22 (Niagara and Vandenberg). Rutting is most prevalent at PTG 64-34 (Ellsworth, Fairchild, Hill, and Offutt). An increasing trend of joint spalling, corner spalling, and corner break with decreasing soil quality (AASHOTO A-1 to A-8 soils). The PCASE Climate Zone Cost Indices the cost index for weathering is approximately double in the moist region over the dry region. The cost index for block cracking is approximately double in the cold region over the hot region. It is recommended that the agency review its pavement performance modeling in the pavement management system to increase the recommendation of pavement preservation treatments and review the use of higher quality materials for pavement maintenance treatments.
ContributorsThevenot, Ronald (Author) / Kaloush, Kamil (Thesis advisor) / Mamlouk, Michael S. (Thesis advisor) / Ozer, Hasan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
Several ways exist to improve pavement performance over time. One suggestion is to tailor the asphalt pavement mix design according to certain specified specifications, set up by each state agency. Another option suggests the addition of modifiers that are known to improve pavement performance, such as crumb rubber and fibers. Nowadays, improving asphalt pavement structures to meet specific climate conditions is a must. In addition, time and cost are two crucial settings and are very important to consider; these factors sometimes play a huge role in modifying the asphalt mix design needed to be set into place, and therefore alter the desired pavement performance over the expected life span of the structure. In recent studies, some methods refer to predicting pavement performance based on the asphalt mixtures volumetric properties.
In this research, an effort was undertaken to gather and collect most recent asphalt mixtures’ design data and compare it to historical data such as those available in the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP), maintained by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The new asphalt mixture design data was collected from 25 states within the United States and separated according to the four suggested climatic regions. The previously designed asphalt mixture designs in the 1960’s present in the LTPP Database implemented for the test sections were compared with the recently designed pavement mixtures gathered, and pavement performance was assessed using predictive models.
Three predictive models were studied in this research. The models were related to three major asphalt pavement distresses: Rutting, Fatigue Cracking and Thermal Cracking. Once the performance of the asphalt mixtures was assessed, four ranking criteria were developed to support the assessment of the mix designs quality at hand; namely, Low, Satisfactory, Good or Excellent. The evaluation results were reasonable and deemed acceptable. Out of the 48 asphalt mixtures design evaluated, the majority were between Satisfactory and Good.
The evaluation methodology and criteria developed are helpful tools in determining the quality of asphalt mixtures produced by the different agencies. They provide a quick insight on the needed improvement/modification against the potential development of distress during the lifespan of the pavement structure.
In this research, an effort was undertaken to gather and collect most recent asphalt mixtures’ design data and compare it to historical data such as those available in the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP), maintained by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The new asphalt mixture design data was collected from 25 states within the United States and separated according to the four suggested climatic regions. The previously designed asphalt mixture designs in the 1960’s present in the LTPP Database implemented for the test sections were compared with the recently designed pavement mixtures gathered, and pavement performance was assessed using predictive models.
Three predictive models were studied in this research. The models were related to three major asphalt pavement distresses: Rutting, Fatigue Cracking and Thermal Cracking. Once the performance of the asphalt mixtures was assessed, four ranking criteria were developed to support the assessment of the mix designs quality at hand; namely, Low, Satisfactory, Good or Excellent. The evaluation results were reasonable and deemed acceptable. Out of the 48 asphalt mixtures design evaluated, the majority were between Satisfactory and Good.
The evaluation methodology and criteria developed are helpful tools in determining the quality of asphalt mixtures produced by the different agencies. They provide a quick insight on the needed improvement/modification against the potential development of distress during the lifespan of the pavement structure.
ContributorsKaram, Jolina Joseph (Author) / Kaloush, Kamil (Thesis advisor) / Mamlouk, Michael (Thesis advisor) / Ozer, Hasan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
Asphalt concrete (AC) layers in airfield and highway pavements are subjected to complex 3-D stress states due to moving load and maneuvering effects of heavy trucks and aircrafts in highway and airfield pavements. The conditions AC layers are subjected to in pavements evolved significantly with increasing truck loads and repetitions. In addition, truck platooning was recently introduced with the development in automation and connected technologies in the transportation industry. Reliability of pavement designs against permanent deformations can be compromised under such traffic loading conditions.The main goal of this dissertation is to characterize permanent deformation resistance of asphalt mixtures under various stress pulse configuration with varying stress states and rest periods. While the effects of loading duration and stress states were commonly studied in the literature, rest period effect was relatively less understood. Therefore, the focus of this thesis is to assess the effect of rest period using advanced triaxial permanent deformation experiments simulating stress states of truck platoons and maneuvering aircrafts.
An experimental program was developed to assess the influence of rest periods under varying stress pulse configurations and paths on the permanent deformation of AC layers. Result showed that increasing rest periods led to increase in permanent deformations consistently about 2-3 times in high temperatures due to the hardening-relaxation or hardening–softening mechanisms. Rest period impact was found to be as important as temperature and stress magnitude for asphalt mixture’s permanent deformation resistance.
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Furthermore, the results showed that the changing stress paths had a significant effect on permanent deformation resistance when compared to conventional repeated-load experiments.
A novel repeated load permanent deformation experiment was developed as part of the thesis research. The main idea of the experiment was to induce dynamic and independent stress pulses in the axial as well as the horizontal direction as confinement. With the individual pulsing in axial and horizontal direction, stress states simulating platoon moving loads or aircraft shear loading can be simulated and compared to conventional flow number experiment with dynamic axial pulsing with constant confinement pressure.
ContributorsAlrajhi, Ashraf Bashir (Author) / Ozer, Hasan (Thesis advisor) / Kaloush, Kamil E (Committee member) / Mamlouk, Michael (Committee member) / Al-Qadi,, Imad (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2024