Cracking Performance of Polymer Modified Asphalt Mixes in Saskatchewan

Aziz Salifu, P. Eng.,

Sr. Materials Engineer

Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Aziz.Salifu@gov.sk.ca

Ania Anthony, P. Eng.,

Director, Surfacing and Materials

Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Ania.Anthony@gov.sk.ca

Kelly Pederson, P. Eng.,

Sr. Materials Standards Engineer

Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Kelly.Pederson@gov.sk.ca

Rielle Haichert, P. Eng.,

Chief Materials Engineer

PSI Technologies

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

rhaichert@pavesci.com

Paper prepared for presentation at the Testing, Modelling and Innovation for Roadway/Embankment Materials and Geotechnical Engineering Session

of the 2024 Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) Conference & Exhibition

Vancouver, British Columbia

Abstract

Based on network level asset management data, cracking is the most prevalent asphalt pavement distress observed on Saskatchewan’s provincial highway network. Reflective cracking typically occurs within two years of paving, and in some cases as early as after the first winter. Applying preservation treatments on newly rehabilitated asphalt pavements takes funds away from other roads and impacts the overall level of service of the pavement network. In 2019, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways (ministry) implemented the use of polymer-modified asphalt binders for highways with high truck traffic, with the objective of mitigating early cracking of newly rehabilitated asphalt pavements.

This paper compares the cracking performance of asphalt pavement sections constructed in 2019 using polymer-modified PG58-37P asphalt binder with hydrated lime to an asphalt pavement constructed using 150-200A pen-vis asphalt binder with hydrated lime. Visual crack assessments were conducted and automated cracking data from a laser crack measuring system (LCMS) was compared over time within each test section and across the test sections. Further assessment of the test sections included performing laboratory testing and evaluation of cracking resistance of the asphalt mixes on pavement cores.