This paper analyzes the five-year performance of eight Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) contracts constructed with Superpave™ Performance Graded Asphalt Cement (PGAC) which were required to meet additional testing parameters in relation to the material properties of the asphalt cement used. The contracts studied were constructed in 2011 and 2012. Automated pavement cracking data was collected at year five, in addition to a visual pavement condition survey conducted by MTO staff. Pavement performance was compared with test data obtained during construction as well as laboratory testing carried out on AC recovered from cores taken in 2016 from the travelled lanes. Relationships and trends of the cracking data to standard Superpave performance grading and enhanced characterization are provided. PGAC characterization normally carried out in Ontario for acceptance of constructed pavements includes the following: performance grading, ash content, approximate critical Crack Tip Opening Displacement (CTOD) obtained from the Double-Edge-Notched Tension (DENT) test, as well as Low Temperature Limiting Grade (LTLG), and grade loss obtained from the Extended Bending Beam Rheometer (ExBBR) test. Analysis showed that many of the additional characterizations provided better correlation with performance for these pavements compared to regular Superpave performance grading.
展开▼
