Five Year Performance Review of a Northern Ontario Pavement Trial: Validation of Ontario's Double-Edge-Notched Tension (DENT) and Extended Bending Beam Rheometer (BRR) Test Methods

In 2003, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation commissioned the construction of a pavement trial on Highway 655, some 60 km north of Timmins, in an area that regularly experiences extremely cold temperatures. The seven asphalt cements included in the trial were designed to withstand -34 deg C surface temperatures after 8 to 10 years of service according to the Superpave specification. The trial was hit by record low air temperatures of around -48 deg C in early 2004, with surface temperatures reaching -34 deg C on two occasions. Early distress consisted of longitudinal cracking in three sections, but today significant longitudinal, transverse, and random cracking has appeared in five sections, while the two remaining sections are largely free of distress. This paper discusses the physical and chemical differences that are responsible for the extraordinary variation in performance. Double-Edge-Notched Tension (DENT, LS-299) and extended Bending Beam Rheometer (extended BBR, LS-308) results on laboratory residues and recovered asphalt cements are able to explain why two sections have performed according to expectation and the others have failed in an unacceptable manner. Chemical analysis has shown that the likely presence of waste engine oil residues, air-blown residues, and/or acids in some of the asphalt cements may have contributed to excessive cracking.

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