Field Validation on the Use of Poker-Chip Test to Predict Cracking in Flexible Pavements
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part B: Pavements
Volume 149, Issue 2
Abstract
Cracking in flexible pavements is one of the most prevalent forms of distress. Two types of cracking ubiquitous to most regions are fatigue or alligator cracking, and thermal or low-temperature cracking. Cracking characteristics of a flexible pavement depend on a combination of factors that include the structural design of the pavement, asphalt mixture properties, component material properties, and construction quality. The cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures used in flexible pavements may be improved by use of asphalt binders with properties that are suitable to the application. Asphalt binder relies on its stiffness, tensile strength, ductility, and ability to relax to resist cracking due to repeated loading or changes in temperature. In current performance grade specifications of asphalt binders, cracking resistance is primarily characterized by asphalt rheology. Over the years, several researchers have considered this to be a gap. Several studies have been conducted to close this gap by considering various properties including strength and ductility. This study focuses on ductility of asphalt binders as measured by the poker-chip test to resist cracking. Field performance data measured on several pavement sections in Texas were compared with ductility of asphalt binders recovered from field cores. This study finds the poker-chip test to be a promising means of measuring ductility as well as characterizing ability of asphalt binders to resist fatigue and thermal cracking.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge support of the Texas Department of Transportation, Research Technology and Innovation program (TxDOT-RTI) for funding this study (TxDOT Project 5-6925). Authors thank Mr. Tom Schwerdt from TxDOT RTI for his help with the project, and Mr. Tyler Seay and Dr. Manuel Trevino for their help in field sampling and laboratory evaluation of the materials, respectively. The authors would also like to acknowledge the use of field data from TxDOT Project 0-6658 (Walubita et al. 2017).
Disclaimer
The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors who are solely responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of any agency or institute. This paper does not constitute a standard, specification, nor is it intended for design, construction, bidding, contracting, tendering, certification, or permit purposes. Trade names were used solely for information purposes and not for product endorsement, advertisement, promotions, or certification.
References
AASHTO. 1999. TP2, method for the quantitative extraction and recovery of asphalt binder from asphalt mixtures. Washington, DC: AASHTO.
Anderson, D. A., and T. W. Kennedy. 1993. “Development of SHRP binder specification.” In Vol. 62 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1993, 481. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Anderson, D. A., L. Lapalu, M. O. Marasteanu, Y. M. L. Hir, J.-P. Planche, and D. Martin. 2001. “Low-temperature thermal cracking of asphalt binders as ranked by strength and fracture properties.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1766 (1): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3141/1766-01.
Anderson, R. M., G. N. King, D. I. Hanson, and P. B. Blankenship. 2011. “Evaluation of the relationship between asphalt binder properties and non-load related cracking.” In Vol. 80 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 2011, 615. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Bahia, H. U., H. Zhai, K. Bonnetti, and S. Kose. 1999. “Non-linear viscoelastic non-linear viscoelastic and fatigue properties of asphalt binders.” In Vol. 68 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1999, 1–34. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Bennert, T., C. Ericson, D. Pezeshki, R. Shamborovskyy, and C. Bognacki. 2017. “Moving toward asphalt binder and mixture protocols to minimize fatigue cracking on asphalt airfields.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2633 (1): 117–126. https://doi.org/10.3141/2633-14.
Bhasin, A., A. Filonzi, S. Komaragiri, R. Hajj, T. Seay, and M. Trevino. 2021. Parts and sample preparation guide for the poker chip or asphalt ductility test. Austin, TX: Texas Digital Library.
Chang, W. V. 1994. Application of acoustic emission to study the cohesive and adhesive strength of asphalt. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.
Christensen, D. W., and N. Tran. 2022. Relationships between the fatigue properties of asphalt binders and the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.
Clark, R. G. 1958. “Practical results of asphalt hardening on pavement life.” In Vol. 27 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1958, 196–208. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Diak, E., E. Beier, and S. A. Hesp. 2020. “Development of a Butt joint test for the ductile performance grading of asphalt binders.” Constr. Build. Mater. 243 (May): 118195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118195.
Doyle, P. C. 1958. “Cracking characteristics of asphalt cement.” In Vol. 27 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1958, 581. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). 2014. Distress identification manual for the long-term pavement performance program. Washington, DC: FHWA.
Filonzi, A., R. Hajj, S. Komaragiri, and A. Bhasin. 2022a. “Investigating the use of a binder cohesion test to evaluate cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures.” In Proc., RILEM Int. Symp. on Bituminous Materials, edited by H. Di Benedetto, H. Baaj, E. Chailleux, G. Tebaldi, C. Sauzéat, and S. Mangiafico, 1167–1173. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International.
Filonzi, A., S. Komaragiri, R. Hajj, M. Trevino, D. Hazlett, E. Mahmoud, and A. Bhasin. 2022b. “A method to evaluate the tensile strength and ductility of asphalt binders using a thin confined film.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2022.2031194.
Glover, C. J., R. R. Davison, C. H. Domke, Y. Ruan, P. Juristyarini, D. B. Knorr, and S. H. Jung. 2005. Development of a new method for assessing asphalt binder durability with field validation. College Station, TX: Texas Transportation Institute.
Hajj, R., and A. Bhasin. 2018. “The search for a measure of fatigue cracking in asphalt binders—A review of different approaches.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. 19 (3): 205–219. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2017.1279490.
Hajj, R., R. Hure, and A. Bhasin. 2017. “Evaluation of stiffness, strength, and ductility of asphalt binders at an intermediate temperature.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2632 (1): 44–51. https://doi.org/10.3141/2632-05.
Halstead, W. J. 1962. “The relation of asphalt ductility to pavement performance.” In Vol. 32 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1962, 247. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Harvey, J. A. F., and D. Cebon. 2003. “Failure mechanisms in viscoelastic films.” J. Mater. Sci. 38 (Mar): 1021–1032. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022345713409.
Heukelom, W. 1966. “Observations on the rheology and fracture of bitumens and asphalt mixes.” In Vol. 35 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1966, 358. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Johnson, C. M., H. Wen, and H. U. Bahia. 2009. “Practical application of viscoelastic continuum damage theory to asphalt binder fatigue characterization.” In Vol. 28 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 2009, 597. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Kandhal, P. S. 1977. Low-temperature ductility in relation to pavement performance, low-temperature properties of bituminous materials and compacted bituminous paving mixtures. Chicago: ASTM.
Kandhal, P. S., and W. Koehler. 1987. Effect of rheological properties of asphalts on pavement cracking. Philadelphia: ASTM.
Kim, S.-S. 2005. “Direct measurement of asphalt binder thermal cracking.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 17 (6): 632–639. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2005)17:6(632).
Lesueur, D., M. D. Elwardany, J. P. Planche, D. Christensen, and G. N. King. 2021. “Impact of the asphalt binder rheological behavior on the value of the parameter.” Constr. Build. Mater. 293 (Jul): 123464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123464.
Lindsey, G. H. 1967. “Triaxial fracture studies.” J. Appl. Phys. 38 (12): 4843–4852. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1709232.
Marasteanu, M., et al. 2007. Investigation of low temperature cracking in asphalt pavements-a transportation pooled fund study. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota DOT.
Marek, C. R., and M. Herrin. 1968. Tensile behavior and failure characteristics of asphalt cements in thin films. Urbana: Univ. of Illinois.
Poulikakos, L. D., and M. N. Partl. 2011. “Micro scale tensile behaviour of thin bitumen films.” Exp. Mech. 51 (Sep): 1171–1183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-010-9434-3.
Rahim, A., N. Thom, and G. Airey. 2019. “Development of compression pull-off test (CPOT) to assess bond strength of bitumen.” Constr. Build. Mater. 207 (May): 412–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.02.093.
Reese, R. 1997. “Properties of aged asphalt binder related to asphalt concrete fatigue life.” In Vol. 66 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1997, 604–632. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Reese, R. E., and J. L. Goodrich. 1993. “California desert test road-a step closer to performance based specifications.” In Vol. 62 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1993, 247–313. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Rowe, G. M., G. King, and M. Anderson. 2014. “The influence of binder rheology on the cracking of asphalt mixes in airport and highway projects.” J. Test. Eval. 42 (5): 1063–1072. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20130245.
Skog, J. B. 1981. “Effect of changes in asphalt properties on pavement performance—Zaca-Wigmore test road.” In Vol. 50 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 1981, 538. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Stuart, K. D., and W. S. Mogawer. 2002. “Validation of the superpave asphalt binder fatigue cracking parameter using the FHWA’s accelerated loading facility.” In Vol. 71 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 2002, 116–146. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Sultana, S., A. Bhasin, and K. M. Liechti. 2014. “Rate and confinement effects on the tensile strength of asphalt binder.” Constr. Build. Mater. 53 (Feb): 604–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.12.004.
Tabatabaee, H. A., and H. Bahia. 2015. “Field validation of a thermal cracking resistance specification framework for modified asphalt.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2505 (1): 41–47. https://doi.org/10.3141/2505-06.
Tsai, B.-W., and C. L. Monismith. 2005. “Influence of asphalt binder properties on the fatigue performance of asphalt concrete pavements.” In Vol. 74 of Proc., Asphalt Paving Technology 2005, 733–790. Lino Lakes, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
TxDOT (Texas DOT). 2016. Pavement management information system, rater’s manual. Austin, TX: TxDOT.
Walubita, L. F., S. I. Lee, A. N. Faruk, T. Scullion, S. Nazarian, and I. Abdallah. 2017. Texas flexible pavements and overlays: Year 5 report-complete data documentation. College Station, TX: Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Zhang, R., W. Zhang, S. Shen, S. Wu, and Y. Zhang. 2021. “Evaluation of the correlations between laboratory measured material properties with field cracking performance for asphalt pavement.” Constr. Build. Mater. 301 (Sep): 124126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124126.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part B: Pavements
Volume 149 • Issue 2 • June 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 19, 2022
Accepted: Oct 29, 2022
Published online: Mar 7, 2023
Published in print: Jun 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Aug 7, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Dheeraj Adwani, Anand Sreeram, Amit Bhasin, Deconvoluting the Mechanisms of Thermal Degradation and Oxidation during the Aging Simulation of Elastomeric Modified Asphalt Binders, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-17450, 36, 7, (2024).