Impact of Wastewater Treatment Sludge on Cracking Resistance of Hot Mix Asphalt Mixes at Lower Mixing Temperature
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 12
Abstract
Wastewater treatment sludge (WTS) is a by-product of wastewater treatment. Moisture holding capacity, high organic, complex inorganics, and zeolite-like chemical contents make WTS a valuable pavement additive. This study evaluated the impacts of 1.5% WTS on fatigue cracking and low-temperature cracking resistance of asphalt mixes. Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) from North Dakota Highway-17 and I-29 projects were used. Three mixes—0%, 40%, and 60% RAP content—with and without WTS, were considered. The rheology of extracted RAP was tested for high-temperature continuous temperature, intermediate-temperature fatigue cracking resistance using linear amplitude sweep (LAS), and low-temperature cracking resistance using 4-mm parallel plate geometry. Rheology tests were conducted using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). Results showed that RAP from Highway-17 was relatively stiffer than the I-29 RAP. RAP mixes modified with 1.5% WTS were prepared at 40°C (104°F) lower mixing temperature than the control. Semicircular bend (SCB) and disk-shaped compact tension (DCT) tests were used to evaluate the fatigue cracking and low-temperature cracking resistance of the mixes, respectively. Results indicated that WTS improved the fatigue and low-temperature cracking resistance of 0%, 40%, and 60% RAP mixes from both RAP sources. The effect of WTS on fatigue cracking resistance increased with RAP content, whereas the effect of WTS on low-temperature cracking decreased with RAP content. Low-temperature cracking resistance of the 40% RAP mix was 24% higher than that of unmodified 0% RAP mix for Highway-17 mixes, and was almost similar for I-29 mixes. This shows WTS can be used as an additive to improve fatigue and low-temperature cracking resistance of mixes with RAP.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request, including binder rheology, and fatigue and low-temperature cracking resistance of mixes.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the Grand Forks wastewater treatment plant for providing the materials.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 12 • December 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 7, 2020
Accepted: Jun 19, 2020
Published online: Sep 29, 2020
Published in print: Dec 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Feb 28, 2021
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