A MECHANISTIC EVALUATION OF MODIFIED ASPHALT PAVING MIXTURES

The main purpose of this study was to facilitate decisions concerning the effectiveness of modifiers in mitigating pavement distress and imp roving long-term overall pavement performance in actual field conditio ns, by utilizing shortterm laboratory results and a mathematical predi ction model. The modifiers investigated were carbon black, neoprene la tex, and polymer modified asphalt (STYRELF). The statistical general l inear model (GLM) and the Fisher least significant difference (LSD) we re used for the analysis of data. The results of the study indicate th at the effect of the modifier on the paving mixture properties was ins ignificant at low temperatures (down to -17 degrees C), but significan t at high temperatures (up to 60 degrees C) where the synergistic effe ct of the modifier on the paving mixture was pronounced. The VESYS III A pavement performance prediction model was utilized to assess the eff ects, if any, of the modifier on the pavement's overall performance. A ll the modifiers improve, to some degree, the overall pavement perform ance.