Use of coupling agents to stabilize asphalt–rubber–gravel composite to improve its mechanical properties

The mechanical performance of rubber-modified asphalt roads depends, besides the intrinsic properties of the constituents (asphalt, rubber and gravel), on their interfaces. To improve the adhesion between constituents, two different coupling agents were required: one to link asphalt with the rubber particles to stabilize the composite creating an elastic network in the interior of the material to improve its elastic recovery, and other to increase the adhesion between the hydrophobic asphalt and the hydrophilic gravel. A phenolic resin was used to link the rubber particles with the asphalt, while a switterionic molecule (phosphatidyl-choline) was used to change the OH groups on the gravel surface by hydrocarbon chains to make it compatible with the asphalt.     

粉胶比对沥青混合料安全性能影响的试验研究

为研究出合理的、适合大兴安岭通县公路沥青混凝土路面的粉胶比,选用大兴安岭本地石材、大庆AH-130基质沥青,按密级配AC-16Ⅰ上限配比,通过标准马歇尔、浸水马歇尔、车辙、小梁低温弯曲等试验对沥青混合料的安全性能进行了研究。结果表明：最佳沥青用量OAC为6.0%,沥青混合料的抗水侵性能满足要求;在同一油石比的条件下,随着粉胶比的增大,动稳定度有显著增大的趋势,但当粉胶比超过1.0时,增长趋势逐渐缓慢,并且在粉胶比达到1.3之后达到峰值,然后开始下降;随着粉胶比的逐渐增大,弯拉应变有增大的趋势,粉胶比在1.0-1.1左右沥青混合料低温抗弯拉性能最佳。     

低噪声路面降噪效果研究

通过对公路交通噪声特征,低噪声路面的特点、结构、降噪机理及国内外研究现状的分析,对宁杭高速二期工程低噪声路面与普通路面噪声监测结果进行对比分析,确认低噪声沥青路面具有比较明显的降噪效果,路肩处噪声可降低3～4 dB(A),路外15 m处可降低1.1～3.5 dB(A).     

Energy and temperature performance analysis of geothermal (ground source) heat pumps integrated with permeable pavement systems for urban run-off reuse

Geothermal (ground source) heat pumps (GHP) and permeable pavement systems (PPS) have demonstrated their effectiveness in both industry and academic research during recent decades. To meet the rising demand for sustainable, recyclable and energy efficient techniques, research has focused on the combination of techniques to enhance existing or develop new applications.

This paper reports on an experimental programme that combined GHP with PPS for nutrient removal and system energy balancing. Experimental data collected over a 3-year period have provided evidence of highly efficient removal rates of up to 99% for ammonia–nitrate and biochemical oxygen demand; and 96% removal rates were obtained for orthophosphate–phosphorus. This paper also contains energy efficiency ratio (EER) and coefficient of performance (COP) calculations. Cyclic heat removal and heat rejection allowed for stable temperature and pump COP and EER sustainability. The results prove that PPS systems are appropriate for GHP installation, delivering high and stable pollutant removal with EER efficiencies between 1.5 and 5.5.

The combination of GHP with PPS has the potential to provide a new sustainable and eco-friendly practice.     

Harvesting heat energy from asphalt pavements: development of and comparison between numerical models and experiment

The use of flowing water in embedded pipes to harvest heat energy from asphalt pavements and thereby reducing its temperature and the urban heat island effect has been proposed. A successful use of such an approach would require a complete understanding of the effect and the interaction of various mechanisms such as conduction, convection and radiation and factors such as solar radiation, diameter of pipe and rate of flow. A large-scale experiment was conducted to understand such effects, and numerical modelling was conducted for prediction of temperature. The experiment was modelled using finite element method, and a good match was obtained between predicted and experimentally obtained results. Effects of pipe diameter and flow rate were also analysed. This model could be used in future for selection of appropriate levels of critical variables and hence successful implementation of this concept to sustainable pavements.     

Role of conductive spreader layer in reducing surface temperature of HMA pavements

Rutting is a common type of shear failure-related deformation in asphalt (hot mix asphalt, HMA) pavements. It occurs over time as a result of slow, repeated heavy loads from vehicles moving along the wheel path. This problem is most noticeable when the pavement is at a high temperature and its stiffness is the lowest. Previous investigations have concluded that flowing water in pipes embedded in the pavement leads to a reduction in surface temperature, and consequently rutting. However, the thermophysical properties of HMA limit the cooling effect to a small region immediately around the pipe. It is proposed that the area of cooling be enhanced by adding a highly conductive spreader layer below the pavement in conjunction with the pipe. A theoretical design optimisation has been carried out by exploring different aspects of the spreader layer–pipe spacing (W), depth of the pipe–spreader (D), spreader thickness (t _s), thermal conductivity (k _s) and variation in the boundary conditions. Finite element modelling predicts that a properly designed, highly conductive spreader layer will lead to a significant reduction in surface temperature with a minimal piping network leading to an extended functional life of the HMA pavement.     

Hybrid life cycle assessment for asphalt mixtures with high RAP content

With the pavement industry adopting sustainable practices to align itself with the global notion of habitable environments, there has been growing use of life-cycle assessment (LCA). A hybrid LCA was used to analyze the environmental footprint of using a reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content in asphalt binder mixtures. The analysis took into consideration the material, construction, and maintenance and rehabilitation phases of the pavement life cycle. The results showed significant reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with an increase in RAP content. The contribution of the construction phase to the GHGs and energy consumption throughout pavement life cycle is minimal. Feedstock energy, though not consequential when comparing asphalt mixtures only, has a significant impact on total energy. Based on LCA analysis performed for various performance scenarios, breakeven performance levels were identified for mixtures with RAP. The study highlighted the importance of achieving equivalent field performance for mixtures with RAP and virgin mixtures.     

北京市沥青搅拌站VOCs排放清单研究

定量化的排放清单是环境管理和研究工作的重要抓手,由于行业规模小、活动水平数据匮乏、测试难度大,沥青混合料生产过程的VOCs排放研究国内文献报导极少.本文构建了一套沥青混凝土搅拌站VOCs排放量核算方法,依据排放特点分环节分别核算VOCs排放量,分析排放量的时空分布特征,定量分析排放清单的不确定性,并基于目前的污染控制水平和未来行业管控规划,预估2030年北京市沥青混合料生产行业的VOCs排放量,以期为北京市VOCs总量减排和精细化管理提供依据.结果表明：2017年北京市沥青搅拌站VOCs总排放量为25.9 t,不确定度为25.6%,其中,沥青储罐的排放量最大,占总排放量的87.2%;顺义、昌平、通州3个区的排放量位居前三,分别占行业总排放量的16.2%、14.4%和14.1%;在时间分布上,5—7月沥青混合料产量最高、VOCs排放量最大;通过情景分析,本研究认为通过出台行业标准和绿色生产技术指南,可大幅削减沥青混合料生产行业的VOCs排放量.