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Claremont Graduate University

Preliminary Study of Highway Pavement and Materials

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This preliminary study covered (a) the effects of in-place air voids and other factors on fatigue cracking using Long-Term Pavement Performance data, (b) fracture properties of asphalt concrete in a semicircular bend (SCB) test using a noncontact camera and crosshead movement, and (c) hot applied modified-binder-chip-seal field performance in California. The objective is to improve pavement performance and life, establish a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) tests of fracture properties of asphalt mixtures, and save millions of dollars on maintenance and rehabilitation. Chapter 1 investigated the effect of in-place air voids (AV), asphalt content (AC), bulk-specific gravity (BSG), and maximum specific gravity of asphalt (Gmm) on fatigue cracking. Including 72 sections from different locations covering mix designs, pavement age between 20 and 30 years, and two U.S. climate zones, the investigation included a multiple linear regression, and the random forest (RF) method between the selected explanatory factors and fatigue cracking. Regression models confirmed significant relationships between AC, AV, Gmm, percent of aggregate Pass.No.200, BSG, and fatigue cracking. Fatigue cracking aligned with high AV, low BSG, low Gmm, and a low percentage of aggregate Pass.No.200. RF indicated that AC, Gmm, percent of aggregate Pass.No.200, and BSG are important factors. Chapter 2 showed the SCB test is quick, indicative, and has reasonable variability in calculating crack propagation indirectly using crosshead movement (CHM) or crack mouth opening. A noncontact camera (NCC) and CHM were used to compared SCB. A strong correlation emerged between J c from SCB NCC and J c from SCB CHM, and between K 1c from SCB NCC and K 1c from SCB CHM. The SCB CHM test showed great potential as a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) test of fracture properties. Chapter 3 assessed current conditions of the 14 Caltrans modified-binder seal-coat projects that contained some crumb rubber modification, and to determine their field performance. Field reviews between September and October 2015 found most projects were rated either good or fair. Primary distress types were transverse cracking, bleeding, and longitudinal cracking. Streaking and roping due to improper application rate/construction were observed. Transverse cracking and bleeding were the dominant distresses in high-mountain and high-desert regions.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Engineering and Industrial Applied Mathematics Joint PhD with California State University Long Beach, PhD
Level thesis:degree_level
Open Access Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Institute of Mathematical Sciences
Year dc:date.available
2020

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Eljairi, Omer
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Marina Chugunova
  • Vahid Balali
  • Ali Nadim

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/636
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:cgu_etd-1658

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Claremont Graduate University
Base URL
scholarship.claremont.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Eljairi, Omer. Preliminary Study of Highway Pavement and Materials. Open Access Dissertation thesis, 2020. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/636