SCIENTIFIC NOTE Sensitivity analysis of a new dynamic modulus (|E ∗ |) model for asphalt mixtures

Asphalt pavement designers have been using the dynamic modulus (|E ∗ |) as a fundamental parameter to reflect the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) performance, and since |E ∗ | is considered as an essential input in the new AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), many models were developed for evaluating and/or predicting this property for HMA. This article focuses on the verification of a newly developed model to predict |E ∗ | by utilising robust sensitivity analyses through tornado plots and extreme tail analyses, which are used to identify the relative importance of the input variables on the predicted |E ∗ |. Results showed that the binder dynamic shear modulus (|G ∗ |) has the most significant effect, followed by the air void content, on the predicted |E ∗ |, and both properties contributed largely to the

[1]  Neeraj Buch,et al.  Significant ME PDG Design Inputs for Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements in Michigan , 2007 .

[2]  Ralph Haas,et al.  Investigation of Relationship Between Deterministic and Probabilistic Prediction Models in Pavement Management , 1997 .

[3]  J. Aboudi.  Mechanics of composite materials - A unified micromechanical approach , 1991 .

[4]  David Vose,et al.  Quantitative Risk Analysis: A Guide to Monte Carlo Simulation Modelling , 1996 .

[5]  Matthew W. Witczak,et al.  Revised Predictive Model for Dynamic (Complex) Modulus of Asphalt Mixtures , 1996 .

[6]  Michael Santi,et al.  Development and evaluation of hot mix asphalt stability index , 2009 .

[7]  Matthew W Witczak,et al.  Development of a New Revised Version of the Witczak E* Predictive Model for Hot Mix Asphalt Mixtures (With Discussion) , 2006 .

[8]  Ted Eschenbach,et al.  Technical Note: Constructing Tornado Diagrams with Spreadsheets , 2006 .

[9]  Ala R. Abbas,et al.  Micromechanical Modeling of the Viscoelastic Behavior of Asphalt Mixtures Using the Discrete-Element Method , 2007 .

[10]  Yu T. Chou.  RELIABILITY DESIGN PROCEDURES FOR FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS , 1990 .

[11]  Senthilmurugan Thyagarajan.  Improvements to strain computation and reliabilty analysis of flexible pavements in the Mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide , 2009 .

[12]  T. Pellinen,et al.  HIRSCH MODEL FOR ESTIMATING THE MODULUS OF ASPHALT CONCRETE , 2003 .

[13]  Zvi Hashin,et al.  Viscoelastic Behavior of Heterogeneous Media , 1965 .

[14]  Dan G Zollinger,et al.  Sensitivity analysis of input parameters for pavement design and reliability , 1995 .

[15]  Jacob Uzan,et al.  MODIFICATION OF THE ASPHALT INSTITUTE BITUMINOUS MIX MODULUS PREDICTIVE EQUATION (DISCUSSION) , 1983 .

[16]  Balasingam Muhunthan,et al.  Prediction of hot mix asphalt dynamic modulus using dimensional analysis , 2012 .

[17]  Qingli Dai,et al.  Prediction of Creep Stiffness of Asphalt Mixture with Micromechanical Finite-Element and Discrete-Element Models , 2007 .

[18]  Robert H. Sues,et al.  Reliability-Based Analysis and Design of Flexible Airfield Pavements , 1993 .

[19]  K. Chawla,et al.  Metal Matrix Composites , 2006 .