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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until May 01, 2026

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Rational Approach to Evaluate Asphalt Concrete Base Course Design for Improving Construction Quality and Performance

Garcia Ruiz, Johnnatan
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2414-6608
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1650631965250748

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Civil Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
The asphalt concrete (AC) base course contributes largely to the structural capacity of a layered asphalt pavement system. Due to its location in the cross-section, a failure of the AC base would require costly repairs. Therefore, it is important to use AC base courses that are durable. However, durability of AC bases courses seems often overlooked in flexible pavement research. This dissertation demonstrates the potential of a very practical approach to evaluate the durability of asphalt concrete base courses. Additionally, it presents the most reliable of the latest fracture parameters to be used for cracking characterization of AC base courses. Furthermore, provides an approach to evaluate the segregation potential of AC base courses. This dissertation addresses the lack of research on AC base course evaluation and provides the state agencies and construction companies with guidelines of more practical, inexpensive and time-efficient approaches to assess the design and quality of AC base mixtures. To achieve this, a four phases research was developed: 1) more than 50 projects, with different mixture composition and age range, were selected from all over the State of Ohio in order to collect pavement cores for laboratory testing; 2) an evaluation of the AC base mixtures fundamental material properties such as in-place density, moisture-induced damage and disintegration susceptibility (estimated from tensile strength ratio (TSR) and Cantabro mass loss (ML) test), and flexibility index (FI) and cracking resistance (obtained from Illinois semi-circular bending test, IL-SCB) was conducted; 3) a more time-efficient and sensitive procedure to characterize coarser AC base mixtures based on their cracking tolerance (estimating CTindex, using TSR data) was evaluated; 4) an approach to assess the segregation potential of AC base courses was explored. Cantabro mass loss was found to have potential as an approach to characterize the durability of AC base courses. New guidelines for design of more durable AC base courses (i.e. potential threshold values for in-place air voids, asphalt content, and VMA) have been introduced. Findings regarding the reliability of cracking characterization methods have been presented. Finally, considerations to reduce the segregation potential of AC base courses have been identified and recommendations have been drawn.
Shad Sargand (Advisor)
Issam Khoury (Committee Member)
Felipe Aros-Vera (Committee Member)
Adam Fuller (Committee Member)
Bhaven Naik (Committee Member)
159 p.
Civil Engineering
Asphalt Concrete Base Course; Asphalt Mixture; Durability; Cracking Characterization; Segregation; Cantabro Test; Il-SCB; CTindex; Fatigue Cracking; AASHTOWare

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Garcia Ruiz, J. (2022). Rational Approach to Evaluate Asphalt Concrete Base Course Design for Improving Construction Quality and Performance [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1650631965250748

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Garcia Ruiz, Johnnatan. Rational Approach to Evaluate Asphalt Concrete Base Course Design for Improving Construction Quality and Performance. 2022. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1650631965250748.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Garcia Ruiz, Johnnatan. "Rational Approach to Evaluate Asphalt Concrete Base Course Design for Improving Construction Quality and Performance." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1650631965250748

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1650631965250748
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.