Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study
In recent years, the increased use of heavy commercial vehicles with higher axle weights has required the development of innovative technologies to improve the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete conglomerates, such as fatigue resistance and rutting. This study offers a comprehensive comparati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Infrastructures |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/9/3/39 |
| _version_ | 1797240597409431552 |
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| author | Salvatore Bruno Carlo Carpani Giuseppe Loprencipe Loretta Venturini Lorenzo Vita |
| author_facet | Salvatore Bruno Carlo Carpani Giuseppe Loprencipe Loretta Venturini Lorenzo Vita |
| author_sort | Salvatore Bruno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, the increased use of heavy commercial vehicles with higher axle weights has required the development of innovative technologies to improve the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete conglomerates, such as fatigue resistance and rutting. This study offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of different types of asphalt concrete tested in four trial sections (S1, S2, S3, S4) of the SP3 Ardeatina rural road in Rome, under actual traffic and operational conditions. More precisely, the pavement technologies applied include modified asphalt concrete with graphene and recycled hard plastics for S1, asphalt concrete modified with styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) for S2, asphalt concrete with a standard polymeric compound for S3, and traditional asphalt concrete for S4. The evaluation approach involved visual inspections in order to calculate the pavement condition index (PCI) and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests. In addition, back-calculation analyses were performed using ELMOD software to assess the mechanical properties. The laboratory tests revealed superior properties of M1 in terms of its resistance to permanent deformations (+13%, +15%, and +19.5% compared to M2, M3, and M4, respectively) and stiffness (10,758 MPa for M1 vs. 9259 MPa, 7643 MPa, and 7289 MPa for M2, M3, and M4, respectively). These findings were further corroborated by the PCI values (PCI<sub>S1</sub> = 65; PCI<sub>S2</sub> = 17; PCI<sub>S3</sub> = 28; PCI<sub>S4</sub> = 29) as well as the FWD test results after 5 years of investigation, which suggests greater durability and resistance than the other sections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:09:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19844e58403c4a90a2c68cdcafe938e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2412-3811 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:09:58Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infrastructures |
| spelling | doaj.art-19844e58403c4a90a2c68cdcafe938e92024-03-27T13:46:58ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112024-02-01933910.3390/infrastructures9030039Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case StudySalvatore Bruno0Carlo Carpani1Giuseppe Loprencipe2Loretta Venturini3Lorenzo Vita4Department of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, ItalyIterchimica S.p.A., Via G. Marconi, 21, 24040 Suisio, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, ItalyIterchimica S.p.A., Via G. Marconi, 21, 24040 Suisio, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, ItalyIn recent years, the increased use of heavy commercial vehicles with higher axle weights has required the development of innovative technologies to improve the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete conglomerates, such as fatigue resistance and rutting. This study offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of different types of asphalt concrete tested in four trial sections (S1, S2, S3, S4) of the SP3 Ardeatina rural road in Rome, under actual traffic and operational conditions. More precisely, the pavement technologies applied include modified asphalt concrete with graphene and recycled hard plastics for S1, asphalt concrete modified with styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) for S2, asphalt concrete with a standard polymeric compound for S3, and traditional asphalt concrete for S4. The evaluation approach involved visual inspections in order to calculate the pavement condition index (PCI) and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests. In addition, back-calculation analyses were performed using ELMOD software to assess the mechanical properties. The laboratory tests revealed superior properties of M1 in terms of its resistance to permanent deformations (+13%, +15%, and +19.5% compared to M2, M3, and M4, respectively) and stiffness (10,758 MPa for M1 vs. 9259 MPa, 7643 MPa, and 7289 MPa for M2, M3, and M4, respectively). These findings were further corroborated by the PCI values (PCI<sub>S1</sub> = 65; PCI<sub>S2</sub> = 17; PCI<sub>S3</sub> = 28; PCI<sub>S4</sub> = 29) as well as the FWD test results after 5 years of investigation, which suggests greater durability and resistance than the other sections.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/9/3/39modified asphalt concretehigh modulus mixtureroad pavement maintenancevisual inspectionFWD |
| spellingShingle | Salvatore Bruno Carlo Carpani Giuseppe Loprencipe Loretta Venturini Lorenzo Vita Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study Infrastructures modified asphalt concrete high modulus mixture road pavement maintenance visual inspection FWD |
| title | Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study |
| title_full | Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study |
| title_short | Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study |
| title_sort | modified asphalt with graphene enhanced polymeric compound a case study |
| topic | modified asphalt concrete high modulus mixture road pavement maintenance visual inspection FWD |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/9/3/39 |
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