The objective of this project will be to interpret the asphalt characterizations measured elsewhere, such as at RIDOT, by applying self-consistent models of asphalt mechanical behavior. Another research objective will be to interpret molecular models of asphalts in terms of the mechanical models that are used to interpret rheological data.
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Rheological methods from polymer science such as time-temperature superposition and linear viscoelasticity will be used to model the time, frequency, and temperature dependence of dynamical mechanical properties of asphalts. Experimental data will be taken from the literature and/or will be measured at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. Master curves for storage and loss modulus and tan δ will be modeled using fundamental constitutive equations, such as multicomponent Maxwell models. Those same models will be used to interpret other mechanical experiments, such as creep and recovery. Research will involve ongoing participation by a graduate student and an undergraduate researcher.
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12/30/2008
$62,776.16
The day-by-day research will be conducted by a graduate student and one or more undergraduate students. The faculty member will assist the students with finding appropriate data for comparison, choosing model compositions and parameters, developing and applying molecular simulation programs, and interpreting the results.
The principal investigator's research focuses on molecular simulations of polymers, liquids, and additives. A now-finished graduate student in the group worked on ealier phases of this project, applying molecular simulations to model asphalt systems. Those projects developed the tools and initla systems for molecular simulations of model asphalts. Several undergraduate researches have also worked on the earlier projects.
Results will be presented to a range of interested chemical-related audiences via meetings of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the American Chemical Society (Fuel and Petroleum chemistry divisions). Results will be communicated to transportation audiences at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) Annual Meeting, and/or the Petersen Asphalt Conference, as well as via URITC and RIDOT. Project reports will be converted into jounral articles for widespread long-term accessibility.
The long-term benefit is to ddevelop a deeper understanding of the answer to the question, "what should be measured for an asphalt to assure it makes a good roadway, and why?". The result will ultimately be useful to the materials area within the Research and Technology section of the RIDOT Transportation Development section.
rheology, asphalt, asphalt chemistry, asphalt composition, asphalt model, glass transition, molecular simulation, molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo