Solicitation for Transportation Pooled Fund Project on Modified Asphalt Specifications
Nov 11, 2013 – WisDOT and the Modified Asphalt Research Center at University of Wisconsin - Madison, are partnering to from a pooled fund studying binder specification test methods. Participation in this pooled fund presents an opportunity for specifying agencies and users to support research on development of specifications and acceptance criteria for modified binders with a focus on test methods that are most related to performance and meet specific needs. The product of this research will be a unified modified binder specification developed in cooperation with partner states and User-Producer Groups delivered in a format that will allow for rapid implementation and deployment. For more information on the project and how to join, please visit the FHWA approved solicitation posted on the Transportation Pooled Fund website.
IPAS2 Public Release
Aug 15, 2013 – MARC released the IPAS2 asphalt mixture 2-D internal aggregate structure analysis software to public on Aug 15, 2013. The software download is free upon submission of an download request form. A donation will be associated with the use of software tutorial and guide material. Please visit the IPAS webpage for further information and updates in this regards.
MARC Researchers Present at 50th Petersen Asphalt Research Conference
July 16, 2013 – MARC Researchers, Dr. Hussain Bahia and Dr. Hassan Tabatabaee presented some of the latest findings and developments at the 50th Petersen Asphalt Research Conference, held at Laramie, WY, Jul 15-17, 2013. Dr. Hassan Tabatabaee presented an new asphalt binder healing index methodlogy based on application of diffusion mechanism to crack propogation in the Dynamic Shear Rheometer. The index was used to rank binders of various aged binder content, modification level, and loading temepratures in terms of rate of healing subsequent to fatigue damage. Dr. Hussain Bahia discussed new work by MARC looking into the observed effects of mineral fillers on the oxidative aging of asphalt binders, in terms of mechanical and thermo-volumeteric properties. Copies of the presentations are available to MARC partner upon request.
MARC Project Receives CTS Research Partnership Award
April 17, 2013 – MARC research project, "Investigation of Low Temperature Cracking in Asphalt Pavements National Pooled Fund Study - Phase II," received the 2013 CTS Research Partnership Award. The award, which is awarded by the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, recognizes research projects within the CTS program that have resulted in significant impacts on transportation, and rewards teams of individuals who have drawn on the strengths of their diverse partnerships to achieve those results.
The awarded roject was conducted through a partnership led by the University of Minnesota and including MARC, University of Illinois, and Iowa State University.
Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) New Quarterly Technical Progress Report Published
March 31, 2013 – The latest findings and progress made in the Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) by researchers at UW MARC, Western Research Institute, University of Nevada Reno, University of Texas A&M, and Advanced Asphalt Technologies are now available on the ARC website. This quarterly technical progress report covers research progress over the period of January through March 2013. The report may be accessed here.
'Wisconsin Engineer' Magazine Publishes Article on "Green Road" Technology Development at MARC
Jan 7, 2012 – The "Wisconsin Engineer" magazine has published an article entitled "Green Roads" focusing on UW-MARC research activites on this subject. The articles describes how "the newly formed UW-Madison Modified Asphalt Research Center is contributing valuable research in new asphalt technologies." The document highlights a few areas of active research at MARC, "looking at the life cycle of asphalt materials and reducing the emissions and energy required at every stage, from the delivery to the performance of the road." The most essential area of focus in green roads, is reducing emissions and required energy, as stated by Prof. Hussain Bahia, Director of MARC and Professor in civil engineering at UW-Madison. The full article may be accessed here.
MARC Researcher Receives CTAA Award for Best Written Paper
Dec 29, 2011 – UW-MARC researcher, Mr. Daniel Swiertz, was awarded the "Prix Elaine Thonmpson Award" for best written paper from the Canadian Technical Asphalt Association (CTAA), for his paper entitled "Test Method to Quantify the Effect of RAP and RAS on Blended Binder Properties without Binder Extraction", coauthored by MARC director, Professor Hussain Bahia. The awarded paper received the highest ranking in the written presentation and content catagories from among 25 papers submitted to the event.
New Issue of Asphalt Research Correspondent Consortium Published
Dec 10, 2011 – The latest issue of the quarterly newsletter of the Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) is now available. This issue focuses on a the development of a methodology for quantification of healing as a material property, as well as a bitumen solubility model for determination of material internal stability to ensure RAP and virgin binder compatibility. The newsletter may be accessed here.
Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) New Quarterly Technical Progress Report Published
Nov 1, 2011 – The latest findings and progress made in the Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) by researchers at UW MARC, Western Research Institute, University of Nevada Reno, University of Texas A&M and Advanced Asphalt Technologies are now available on the ARC website. This quarterly technical progress report covers work conducted in the period of April through June 2011. The report may be accessed here.
Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) New Quarterly Technical Progress Report Published
Aug 3, 2011 – The latest findings and progress made in the Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC) by researchers at UW MARC, Western Research Institute, University of Nevada Reno, University of Texas A&M and Advanced Asphalt Technologies are now available on the ARC website. This quarterly technical progress report covers work conducted in the period of April through June 2011. The report may be accessed here.
UW-MARC Presents at the US National Congress on Computational Mechanics
July 30, 2011 – The 11th US National Congress on Computational Mechanics (USNCCM-11) was held from July 25 through 28th at the Hilton hotel in Minneapolis, MN. The international congress was host to multi-disciplinary presentations from around the globe, including a mini-symposium on "Pavement Mechanics and Simulation". A total of 15 technical presentations on pavement modeling were presented and discussed in this mini-symposium. UW-MARC researchers, Dr. Raul Velasquez and Mr. Hassan Tabatabaee, presented latest research findings on pavement low temperature behavior modeling, through two presentations titled "Micromechanical Simulation of Glass Transition in Asphalt Mixtures," and "Predicting Low Temperature Physical Hardening of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures".
Research Results Digest Published on NCHRP 9-45 Findings
July 5, 2011 – The National Cooperative Highway Research Project Program published “Research Results Digest 357”, summarizing key findings of the NCHRP Project 9-45, “Test Methods and Speci?cation Criteria for Mineral Filler Used in HMA,” conducted by MARC researchers under the direction of the principal investigator, Professor Hussain Bahia.
The report is based on the final project report authored by Dr. Hussain Bahia, Dr. Ahmad Fahim, Cassie Hintz, Imad Al-Qadi, Gerald Reinke and Erv Dukatz. The research results digest and the final report may be accessed online.
MARC Director Delivers Speech at CITrans 2011
Jun 15, 2011 – MARC Director, Professor Bahia delivered a speech on “Improving moisture resistance of asphalt mixes by direct measurements of bond strength between aggregates and asphalts” at the CITrans 2011 congress in at Costa Rica. The event held at the University of Costa Rica was organized by the Transport Infrastructure Program (Pitra) National Laboratory of Materials and Structural Models, and was attended by more than 130 engineers from Central America, the Caribbean and North America.
Mr. Francisco Jimenez Reyes, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation of Costa Rica, opened the congress with a speech on the importance of the cooperation of academia, government and citizens to improve the national road network.
Professor Bahia Delivers Training Course at the University of Stellenbosch - South Africa
May 21, 2011 – UW-MARC director Professor Hussain Bahia joined Professor Kim Jenkins (University of Stellenbosch) and Professor Martin van de Ven (Technical University of Delft) to deliver the Advanced Bitumen Technology Course (ABTC-2011) during the May 16-21 event. More than 38 students participated in the week long training course that covered various aspects of bitumen technology. This year’s course is the fourth of its kind and included 32 lectures and 2 hands-on evening workshops. The course was expanded to include new bitumen technologies such as warm mix additives, emulsions performance testing, recycling, and new types of modifiers, in addition to the basics of global bitumen specifications.
UW-MARC Director Professor Hussain Bahia Delivers Lecture at the Second Middle East Bitumen Conference (MEB2011)
May 5, 2011 – In this workshop Director Bahia reviewed the Evolution of the Superpave Mixture Design procedure with focus on measuring workability and effects of modified asphalts on mix design. More than 40 governmental and industry representatives from countries in the Persian Gulf and South East Asia participated in this event. In the lecture Director Bahia covered the most recent advancements in Bitumen technology with focus on modified binders, emulsions, and recycled asphalts. During his visit to UAE, Director Bahia met with MARC partners and discussed MARC with potential future international Partners. He also visited the Civil Engineering Department of the American University of Sharja ( AUS) to discuss potential future collaborations.
MARC Presents Research Findings at 2011 AAPT Meeting
April 1, 2011 – The 2011 annual meeting of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) was held in Tampa, Florida, March 27 to 30 at the Waterside Marriott hotel. Three papers were presented by MARC researchers on latest findings in the fields of binder fatigue, warm mix additives (WMA) and low temperature binder testing.
Ms. Cassie Hintz and Mr. Zhijun Li presented findings on the effect of aging on binder fatigue resistance using the newly proposed Linear Amplitude Sweep Test. Mr. Andrew Hanz discussed the importance of aging for Warm Mix Asphalt mixtures, while the paper by Dr. Raul Velasquez and Mr. Hassan Tabatabaee described the developement of the Single Edged Notched Beam test being developed by MARC as a modification of the current BBR device.
MARC Joins NCHRP Project 9-50
Jan 30, 2011 – The Modified Asphalt Research Center at UW Madison has joined North Carolina State University's research team to submit a proposal for the new NCHRP 9-50 project, “Performance-Related Specifications for Asphaltic Binders Used in Preservation Surface Treatments.” This project will focus on the development of performance-related specifications (PRS) for asphaltic binders used in preservation surface treatments, usually applied to large pavement surface areas to slow rate of deterioration and maintain or improve its functional condition. The project is expected to start early summer of 2011. More information can be found at the NCHRP Project webpage
MARC Presents Latest Research at 90th Annual TRB Meeting
Jan 28, 2011 – This year's annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board saw 6 papers presented by MARC researchers. MARC showcased their latest findings in the fields of binder fatigue, warm mix additives (WMA) and emulsion testing, determination of binder bond strength and Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) performance specifications.
During the conference, Ms. Cassie Hintz presented her paper on the modification and validation of the Linear Amplitude Sweep Test for binder fatigue specification. Mr. Hanz discussed the evaluation of the Asphalt Lubricity Test and its relationship to mixture workability, while Ms. Moraes presented her findings on the effect of moisture on asphalt-aggregate bond using MARC's new Bitumen Bond Strength Test (BBS). Mr. Clopotel discussed the modification of the Elastic Recovery Test and its significance and Mr. Swiertz's showed an estimation method for the effect of RAP and RAS on fresh binder low temperature properties. Ms. Johannes also presented a paper describing the sensitivity of the ASTM D7000 “Sweep Test” to emulsion application rate and aggregate gradation, during this event.
UPAC Approves MARC
During its May 2009 meeting, UW-Madison's University Academic Planning Council formally approved the establishment of the Modified Asphalt Research Center (read the official letter (PDF, 455 kB) from Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Paul DeLuca). MARC thanks the university, the members of the UAPC, and those individuals and organizations who offered their endorsement and assistance. This summer MARC plans to host meetings first with faculty members and then with representatives of the modified asphalt community to define and prioritize the most critical research needs for the center.
White Paper on Sustainable Asphalt Pavements
What is the extent of the energy, emissions and environmental impacts of current and promising new asphalt technologies? And what methods and models will help assess these benefits and inform decisions on next steps? To raise awareness and open dialog on these questions, MARC researchers issued a white paper, Sustainable Asphalt Pavements: Technologies, Knowledge Gaps and Opportunities (PDF, 901 kB) in February 2009. We welcome feedback from the asphalt community.
Asphalt Emulsions Used in Europe
MARC researchers are often asked about asphalt emulsions and their viability for widespread use in the United States. During the Fourth International Symposium on Asphalt Emulsion Technology held in September, we were interested to learn more about successful deployment of cold mix asphalt pavements in Europe. We thank Eric Jorda of Arkema/CECA's Rhône Alps Research Center for sharing his paper (PDF, 799 kB) and presentation (PDF, 1.4 MB) on “Dense Cold Mixes: Preservation of County Roads.”
Hussain Bahia discussed with Environmental Health Perspectives journal how MARC research is addressing important questions on the possible benefits of warm-mix and cold-mix asphalts. Read the story in the September 2008 issue: New Default for Asphalt?
In May 2008, CNET News featured the University of Wisconsin's efforts through MARC and the Asphalt Research Consortium to help increase the use of recycled asphalt materials and improve the energy efficiency of asphalt. The story appears on CNET: Paving the way for greener asphalt