MARC News
MARC Researchers Present Findings at the 100th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
January 27, 2021
Participants at the 100th TRB Annual Meeting on January 25-27, 2021 were updated on MARC's latest research findings and developments through a number of presentations on topics of research on-going or completed at MARC including the "Use of Blended Binder Tests to Estimate Performance of Mixtures with High RAP/RAS Content" (Poster), "Effect of Recycling Agents on Rutting Resistance and Moisture Susceptibility of Mixtures with High RAP/RAS Content" (Poster), "Extended Aging Performance of High RAP Mixtures and The Role of Softening Oils" (Poster) and "The Role of Binders in Mixture Cracking Resistance Measured by IDEAL-CT Test" (Poster). Please concat MARC if interested in a copy of the presentations and papers of these research items.
MARC Director Dr. Hussain Bahia Presents Findings at the 99th TRB Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.
July 27, 2020
MARC director Dr. Hussain Bahia delivered two presentations on “Long-Term Performance of Asphalt Concrete Mixed with RAP and RAS: Updates on Transportation Pooled Fund Program TPF-5(352)” and "Challenges with Characterizing Binders after Extraction and Recovery" at the 99th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting on January 12-16, 2020 in Washington D.C. In the first presentation, the short- and long-term aging performance of high RAP and RAS asphalt mixtures utilizing various recycling additives (“rejuvenators”) in the context of balanced mixture design were discussed. In the second presentation, Dr. Bahia compared the binder properties of the extracted and recovered binders and laboratory blends that contain various binder additives. Please concat MARC if interested in a copy of any of these presentations.
MARC Researchers Present Findings at the 99th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
July 27, 2020
Participants at the 99th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting on January 12-16, 2020 in Washington D.C. were updated on MARC's latest research findings and developments through a number of presentations on topics of research on-going or completed at MARC including the "Estimating Asphalt Binder Fatigue at Multiple Temperatures Using a Simplified Pseudo-Strain Energy Analysis Approach in the LAS Test", "Comparison between SCB-IFIT, un-notched SCB-IFIT and IDEAL-CT for Measuring Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures", "Predicting Dynamic Modulus and Rutting Performance of Asphalt Mixture from Binder Properties and Mixture Design Variables", "Rheology and Oxidative Aging of Oils Used in Asphalt Recycling", "Factors Affecting the Interlayer Shear Strength of Lab and Field Samples" and "Identifying Fuel Resistance of Modified Asphalt Mixtures for Airfield Flexible Pavements". Please concat MARC if interested in a copy of any of these presentations.
MARC Director Dr. Hussain Bahia Presents Findings at the 64th CTAA Annual Conference in Montreal, Canada
December 16, 2019
MARC director Dr. Hussain Bahia delivered two presentations on the topics of “The Role of Binders in Cracking Resistance of Mixtures Measured with the IFIT Procedure” and "Testing Tack Coats for Curing, Tracking and Bond Strength" at the 64th Annual Conference of Canadian Technical Asphalt Association (CTAA) which was held in Montreal, Canada on November 24-27, 2019. In the first topic, the role of binders in cracking resistance of mixtures measured with the Illinois Flexiblity Index Test (IFIT) procedure are disucssed by analyzing the binder's fatigue behavior meausred by the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and relating it to the various stages of the FI test. Dr. Bahia showed that the binder's fatigue life estimated from the Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) test correlates reasonably well with the mixture's FI. The second topic is to introduce factors that may affact the curing time, tracking performance, and bond shear strength of aspahlt emulsion tack coats. Dr. Bahia presented that the racking performance is mainly dependent on the rheological properties of the residue and only marginally on the curing time. Please concat MARC if interested in a copy of any of these presentations.
MARC Director Dr. Hussain Bahia Presents Findings at the 94th AAPT Annual Meeting in Texas
March 20, 2019
MARC director Dr. Hussain Bahia delivered a presentation on “Separating Load from Moisture Effects in Wet Hamburg Wheel-Track Test” at the 94th Annual Meeting of Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) which was held in Fort Worth, Texas on March 3-6, 2019. The advances in understanding the confounding effects of the loading and moisture in the wet Hamburg Wheel-Track (HWT) test were presented. A new analysis methodology to model the wet HWT results was proposed to evaluate mixture’s rutting resistance and moisture susceptibility. Dr. Bahia showed how the methodology provides a better assessment of the damage due to loading as opposed to moisture damage. The details of this presentation can be found here.
MARC Researchers Present Findings at the 98th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
February 01, 2019
Participants at the 98th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting on January 13-17, 2019 in Washington D.C. were updated on MARC's latest research findings and developments through a number of presentations on topics of research on-going or completed at MARC including the Interlayer Bonding and Tracking Performance of Tack Coat Materials, Effects of Recycled Asphalt Materials on PG+ Properties and Blending Charts, Factors controlling Behavior of HMA in the SCB Test, Aging Performance of Recycling Agents and their effects on Pavement Performance of RAP Mixtures, and Rutting Resistance Testing by Rotary Asphalt Wheel Tester. Please concat MARC if interested in a copy of any of these presentations.
MARC Presents Findings at the 97th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
January 24, 2018
Participants at the 97th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting on January 7-11th in Washington D.C. became familiar with the MARC's latest research findings and developments through a poster presentation on the effect of reheating procedure and oven types on performance testing results of asphalt mixtures.
MARC Researchers Present Findings at 8th International RILEM SIB Symposium in Ancona, Italy.
October 15, 2015
Mr. Pouya Teymourpour and MARC director Dr. Hussain Bahia presented the latest findings in asphalt mastics characterization at 8th International RILEM SIB Symposium in Ancona, Italy on October 7, 2015. The development of failure master curve for the asphalt mastic characterization of low temperature property was introduced in details. It was also concluded that the mastics have significantly different fracture behavior than binders. Therefore it is better to test mastics to predict mixture cracking. This presentation can be accessed here. The former MARC researcher Dr. Nima Roohi Sefidmazgi who’s currently affiliated with Green Asphalt Co., and Dr. Bahia also presented the findings in “Mechanisms of Failure in Uniaxial Repeated Creep Test and the Relationship to Aggregate Packing” and the presentation can be found here.
MARC Researcher Presents Latest Findings at Rubberized Asphalt Rubber 2015 Conference in Las Vegas, NV.
October 10, 2015
MARC researcher Mr. Tirupan Mandal presented the latest findings in effect of crumb rubber on rheological properties of asphalt binder and aggregate packing of asphalt mixtures at Rubberized Asphalt Rubber 2015 Conference in Las Vegas, NV on October 4-7, 2015. In his presentation, he hypothesized that crumb rubber size, rubber concentration, and reaction time plays an important role in the rheological properties of rubber modified binders and aggregate packing of rubberized asphalt mixtures. He evaluated the effect of crumb rubber particles on the rheological properties of asphalt binders and the aggregate packing of the rubber modified asphalt mixtures through experimentation and image analysis. The detailed presentation can be accessed here.
MARC Researcher Receives IAHE Scholarship.
August 31, 2015
The MARC researcher Mr. Cheng Ling received the 2015 Grant Shaw Memorial Scholarship from Illinois Association of Highway Engineers in the past summer. Mr. Cheng Ling joined MARC in January 2012 and was initially involved in the asphalt emulsion and cold mix asphalt research as part of Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC). In that research he evaluated the coating and bonding properties of cold mix asphalt (CMA) and their relationship to the moisture susceptibility of CMA. He also developed a mix design protocol and volumetric analysis procedures for CMA. He obtained his second Master’s degree on this research and proceeded to his PhD research focused on “Importance of Binder Modification Type and Aggregate Structure on Rutting Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures Using Image-based Multi-scale Modeling”. He’s currently also involved several research projects on asphalt binder characterization and asphalt mixture performances.
MARC Researchers Present Findings at PARC Conference in Laramie, WY.
July 31, 2015
The former MARC researcher Sebastian Puchalski who’s currently affiliated with Kraton Polymers, and MARC director Dr. Hussain Bahia presented the latest findings in investigation of warm mix asphalt additives using the science of tribology to explain improvements in mixture compaction at the 2015 Petersen Asphalt Research Conference (PARC) held by Western Research Institute (WRI) in Laramie, WY. They found that the warm mix additives can affect asphalt concrete compaction, so it is important to look at asphalt as a lubricant at compaction temperatures. In addition, the tribology should be considered in capturing the lubricating effect of warm mix additives. This presentation can be accessed here.
MARC Director Dr. Hussain Bahia Presents Latest Findings at GAF Seminar in Wayne, NJ.
July 15, 2015
MARC director Dr. Hussain Bahia delivered a presentation on “Thermal Cracking of Asphalt Binders and Mastics – Causes and Possible Mitigations” at GAF Seminar in Wayne, NJ on June 25, 2015. The advances in understanding the thermal cracking of binders, effect of fillers and methods of estimating resistance to cracking were presented. The attempt to link these findings to roofing applications was discussed in details. Dr. Bahia also showed how the new testing methods could help producers to estimate quality and reduce the risk of premature failures. The details of this presentation can be found here.
MARC Researchers Present Latest Findings at EATA Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
June 30, 2015
MARC researchers attended and presented at the 6th Conference of the European Asphalt Technology Association (EATA) in Stockholm, Sweden on June 15, 2015. Mr. Pouya Teymourpour and Dr. Hussain Bahia presented the research findings on “Impacts of Lubricating Oils on Rheology and Chemical Compatibility of Asphalt Binders”, which include the determination of the PG grades of Estonian binders, comparison of available grades to the required for existing climatic conditions and investigation of additives needed to produce required grades. The presentation can be accessed here. Mr. Tirupan Mandal, Mr. Ryan Sylla and Dr. Hussain Bahia also presented the research on “Effects of Cross-Linking Agents on Stability & Rheological Properties of Polymer Modified Bitumen”, which can be accessed here.
UW-MARC Director Dr. Hussain Bahia Presents Latest Findings at the Middle East Bitumen Conference in Dubai.
May 30, 2015
Dr. Hussain Bahia presented the latest findings in bitumen blending, oxidation and quality requirements at the Middle East Bitumen Conference held in Dubai on May 12-14, 2015. The latest technological advances in bitumen testing and evaluation was introduced in details. The bitumen grading system (Superpave PG) used in US was also presented. It was suggested in the presentation that chemical, rheology and chromatography (GPC) are potential quality control tools. The presentation can be accessed here.
Professor Hussain Bahia Delivers Presentation at Pavements Joint Technical Committee Meeting of AASHTO in Des Moines, IA.
May 15, 2015
Professor Hussain Bahia delivered a presentation titled “Optimization of Asphalt Mixtures and Pavement Thickness with Specialty Polymers” at the meeting of Joint Technical Committee on Pavement of AASHTO on May 5-6, 2015. Three important topics were discussed including the introduction to asphalt mixtures quality and pavement thickness in the past and future, how modified asphalts has changed and will impact the “return on investment in roads”, and pavement ME design and its role in expediting the change or gain on the investment of asphalt roads. The presentation can be accessed here.
Qatar Looks to Wisconsin for Asphalt Expertise.
May 1, 2015
The small but wealthy nation of Qatar is on course to build an entirely new transportation infrastructure in less than a decade. But to make sure its swiftly growing network of roads can withstand the extreme climate conditions of the Arab Peninsula, Qatar is looking to Wisconsin. Dr. Hussain Bahia, who is the Vilas Distinguished Professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and head of the renowned UW-Madison Modified Asphalt Research Center (MARC), was recruited in this project two years ago to develop the specifications and quality checks for the asphalt materials used in Qatar’s roads. Please check the news posted on COE website for more details.
Professor Hussain Bahia Delivers Presentation at Max Conference in Moscow, Russia.
April 15, 2015
MARC director Professor Hussain Baha delivered a presentation on optimization of asphalt mix design and construction with special polymers at Max Conference in Moscow, Russia on March 26-27, 2015. The need for bitumen modification and effect of modification on bitumen properties, constructability of asphalt mixture and rutting and cracking resistance were introduced. Prof. Bahia also presented using digital imaging to show how some polymers can cause better packing of aggregates. The details of this presentation can be accessed here.
MARC Researchers Deliver Lecture at Estonia Bitumen Conference in Tallinn, Estonia.
April 1, 2015
MARC director Dr. Hussain Bahia delivered a lecture titled “Implementation of the Bitumen Performance Grading System in Estonia” at Estonia Bitumen Conference in Tallinn, Estonia on Feb 19, 2015. A detailed introduction on how US has reached to currently valid Superpave standards was given and the on-going research in bitumen and asphalt mixtures was also presented. In addition, Dr. Bahia commented the study of bitumen sources used in Estonia and provided some suggestions based on his experience. The presentation can be accessed here.
MARC Researchers Present Research Findings at 2015 AAPT Meeting in Portland, OR.
Mar 11, 2015
MARC researcher Mr. Amir Arshadi attended the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) which was held in Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel, Portland, Oregon, on March 8-11, 2015. With his paper titled “Development of an Image-based Multi-Scale Finite Element Approach with Effective Simulation of Particle-to-Particle Contact Behavior to Predict Mechanical Response of Asphalt Mixtures” being accepted, Mr. Arshadi attended a technical session where his paper was listed in the program as “By Title” and had discussions with other researchers who were interested in this field. Ms. Raquel Moraes, the MARC alumni, also attended this meeting and presented her research findings on the effect of mineral filler on changes in molecular size distribution of asphalts during oxidative aging.
MARC Researchers Present at ARC Deliverables/Products Presentation and Workshop in Washington, D.C.
Jan 15, 2015
MARC researchers, Dr. Hussain Bahia and Mr. Pouya Teymourpour, presented some of the latest findings and developments in high, intermediate and low temperature properties of asphalt materials on Jan 15 in Washington, D.C., which was held as the Asphalt Research Consortium supported by Federal Highway Administration nears its completion. Dr. Hussain Bahia presented the low temperature cracking characterization of asphalt binders using Single Edge Notch Bending (SENB) test and the asphalt binder yield energy (BYET) and elastic recovery (ER) test using the Dynamic Shear Rheometer at intermediate temperature. Mr. Pouya Teymourpour demonstrated a newly developed method to characterize damage resistance to rutting of asphalt mixtures using iPas2 software. The presentations can be accessed here.
MARC Held Pooled Fund and WHRP Projects Kick-off Meetings
Oct 13, 2014
MARC held the kick-off meetings for the Transportation Pooled Fund project on “Modified Binder PG+ Specifications” and the Wisconsin Highway Research Program (WHRP) project titled “Analysis and Feasibility of Asphalt Pavement Performance-Based Specifications for WisDOT” on Oct 13, 2014. The intent of the pooled fund project is to provide essential information to state and local agencies to support standardization of PG+ specifications by identifying PG+ test methods that are reproducible and show promise in simulating actual field performance. For the WHRP project, it is aimed to develop a performance-based acceptance framework that applies to both mixture design and quality control/acceptance during production and further to assess the feasibility of implementing this framework into current WisDOT practice. MARC director Professor Hussain Bahia introduced the two projects in the meeting and discussed the staffing of the projects associated with the researchers and staffs of MARC. The two projects are about to start soon.
UW-MARC Director Professor Hussain Bahia Delivers Lecture at the 21st Meeting of Asphalt Conference
May 14, 2014
UW-MARC director Professor Hussain Bahia gave a lecture, titled “Advanced Rheological Methods for a More Efficient Selection of Polymer Modified Asphalt Binders,” at the 21st Meeting of Asphalt Conference, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hosted by the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuel (IBP) on May 14th, 2014, the programming of the 21st Meeting of Asphalt technical sessions included presentations, lectures and panels on topics of relevance to the field. For more information, please see the conference website.
Marc Director Delivers Lecture at the Fifth Middle East Bitumen Conference (MEB2014)
May 4, 2014
UW-MARC director Professor Hussain Bahia gave a lecture, titled “Innovations in Bitumen Applications and Technologies,” at the Fifth Middle East Bitumen/Asphalt Conference (MEB 2014), held in Dubai. Hosted & sponsored by the Emirates National Oil Company Ltd (ENOC) LLC on May 4th to 6th, MEB 2014 provides insights into the changing bitumen market picture and the resultant emerging trends, drivers and new opportunities. At the same conference, Professor Hussain Bahia also delivered a workshop, titled “Modified Bitumen Production and Use in Paving Mixtures for Roads and Airports”, on May 4th 2014. The workshop objectives were: (a) Implementation of Superpave and PG grading in Qatar and methods to meet new bitumen grades with modifiers; (b) Types of modifiers, methods of producing modified bitumen, and mixing and compaction temperatures of mixtures with modified bitumen; (c) Relationship between bitumen properties, asphalt mixture density and performance, and pavement structural design and thickness of asphalt layers. For more information, please see the workshop website.
Professor Bahia Delivers Training Workshop at Fourth Jordan International Conference and Exhibition for Roads and Transport
April 10, 2014
UW-MARC director Professor Hussain Bahia delivered a workshop, titled “Improving Sustainability of Asphalt Roads through Durability, Recycling, and Surface Texture”, on March 10th 2014 at the Fourth Jordan International Conference and Exhibition for Roads and Transport “High Priority Issues in the Future Transport Sector”, held in Amman, Jordan. The workshop objectives were: (a) Improving durability by using modified asphalt and advanced mixture designs; (b) Innovative use of recycled asphalt, recycled tire rubber, and other by-products; (c) Designing to improve safety and reduce noise by engineering texture of asphalt mixtures in the design process. The audience included professionals and decision makers across the road and transport industry in the Arab world and overseas. For more information, please see the workshop website.
MARC Director Professor Hussain Bahia Receives Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships Award
March 25, 2014
UW-MARC director Professor Hussain Bahia was awarded with the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships, which recognize professors whose distinguished scholarship has advanced the confines of knowledge, and whose excellence has also included teaching or service. It is a collaborative tool to reward and retain top faculty. The five-year professorship provides a fixed allocation of flexible funds ($75,000). The professor carries the title for the duration of their career at UW-Madison. Further information about Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships is available at the website.
MARC Researcher Awarded "Dr. David R. Jones IV" Scholarship by AMAP
March 10, 2014
MARC researcher, Raquel Moraes, was awarded the 2014 "Dr. David R. Jones IV" Scholarship by the Association of Modified Asphalt Prodcuers (AMAP). Raquel has worked on a number of research projects concering the forumation and performance of modified asphalt binders. Her Ph.D. research is focused on the physical and chemical interaction between mineral aggregate fillers and asphalt during the oxidative aging process. The Association of Modified Asphalt Producers is dedicated to the "development, production, and use of modified asphalts for highway paving". Further information about AMAP and the scholarship is available at the official scolarship's website.
MARC presents Latest Research Findings at the 93rd Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting
Jan 16, 2014
Participants at the 93rd Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting on Jan 11-16 in Washington D.C. became familiar with the MARC's latest research findings and developments through a number of presentations on cold mix asphalt, oil and extender additives, image analysis, computational modeling, and relating mix design properties to pavement surface texture. Furthermore, recent advancements and future research trends on the topic of performance-based mix design was presented to the TRB AFK30 committee on "Characteristics of Nonasphalt Components of Asphalt Paving Mixtures" by Dr. Nima Roohi; while Dr. Hassan Tabatabaee presented recent advancement in computational modeling of thermal cracking and low temperature damage in asphalt materials to the TRB AFK50 sub-committee on "Advanced Models to Understand Behavior and Performance of Asphalt Mixtures".
MARC Researchers Receive Walter J. Emmons Award
Nov 8, 2013
A recent publication by MARC researchers, Mr. Nima Roohi Sefidmazgi, Mr. Pouya Temourpoour, and Dr. Hussain Bahia, entitled "Effect of Particle Mobility on Aggregate Structure Formation in Asphalt Mixtures" was awarded the Walter J. Emmons Award for the best paper presented at the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists 2013 Annual Meeting held in Denver, Colorado. The award has been conferred annually to the best presented paper at the AAPT annual meeting since 1949. The award will be presented to the authors at the 2014 Annual Meeting, to be held in Atlanta, GA from March 16-19, 2014.
Solicitation for Transportation Pooled Fund Project on Modified Asphalt Specifications
Nov 6, 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.
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Publishes Final Report for the National Pooled Fund Study on Low Temperature Cracking - Phase II
August 31, 2012
Lead by the University of Minnesota in partnership with UW-MARC, University of Illinois, and Iowa State University, the Pooled Fund Study on Low Temperature Cracking of Asphalt Pavements - Phase II has been completed. This study proposes two fracture testing methods and specifications for selection of mixtures that are resistant to thermal cracking. UW-MARC contributions to this study include highlighting the importance of physical hardening and thermo-volumetric properties for accurate prediction of thermal stresses. For final report and more information
Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) Test to be Included in the 2012 AASHTO Materials Standards Publication
June 26, 2012
The Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) Test, developed by MARC researchers for fatigue damage characterization of asphalt binders, will be published as an AASHTO provisional standard TP 101 in the 2012 AASHTO Materials Standards Read more on the LAS procedure
'Wisconsin Engineer' Magazine Publishes Article on "Green Road" Technology Development at MARC
January 7, 2012
The “Wisconsin Engineer” magazine has published an article entitled “Green Roads” focusing on UW-MARC research activities 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
December 29, 2011
UW-MARC researcher, Mr. Daniel Swiertz, was awarded the “Prix Elaine Thompson 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 categories from among 25 papers submitted to the event.
AASHTO Approves the Binder Bond Strength Test (BBS) as a Provisional Standard
August 31, 2011
The Binder Bond Strength (BBS) procedure, developed at MARC, has been approved as provisional AASHTO Standard TP 91-11. The BBS test measures the bond strength in asphalt-aggregate systems in dry and wet conditions.Read more
New Issue of Asphalt Research Correspondent Consortium Published
December 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
November 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
August 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 Specification 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
June 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 years 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
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?
The August 2008 issue of Better Roads magazine provides an excellent look at the different aspects of modifying asphalts. MARC and UW-Madison's research contributions appear on page 4 of the PDF: Modifiers a Must in a World of High-Performance Asphalt (PDF, 2.2 MB)
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
In February 2008, the UW College of Engineering published a news story on the goals and the most recent activities of MARC and the Asphalt Research Consortium: Where the rubber meets the road: Wisconsin asphalt research yields energy savings
A September 2007 College of Engineering news item introduced Dr. Bahia's modified asphalt research efforts at UW: Finely tuned asphalt mixes may reduce roadway wear