Evaluation of the Effect of Flowing Water through Embedded Pipe on Rutting Of Pavement

Kadhum, Saly Kadhum Saad

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Evaluation of the Effect of Flowing Water through Embedded Pipe on Rutting Of Pavement

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Flexible pavements are layered systems that consist of a sub-grade, sub-base, and the pavement surface layer. Pavement surface layer is a mixture of asphalt binder, coarse, and fine aggregates. The stiffness of asphalt materials is significantly reduced by an increase in temperature. The high heat capacity and the low thermal conductivity of pavement materials result in significant increase in temperature and hence increase in the potential of rutting or permanent deformation in asphalt pavements. Controlling of pavement temperature within a desirable range can be an efficient method to reduce rutting. In this study, the technique of lowering pavement temperature by using a fluid through pipes installed inside the pavement is being investigated. Pavement slabs of hot mix asphalt with and without inserted copper pipe were constructed in the Civil and Environmental Engineering laboratory, and the slabs were tested under high temperature with the Model Mobile Load Simulator 3 (MMLS3). The extraction of heat energy from asphalt pavements was achieved by flowing water through embedded pipe located at 1.5 inches below the surface. This technique resulted in a 10Â°C decrease in pavement temperature and a reduction of rutting depth from 0.65 inch (significant) to 0.1inch (insignificant). Rut depth and temperature data obtained at different locations along the pavement showed good correlation between surface temperature and rutting depth. The results show that the flowing water through embedded pipes is an effective way to reduce the surface temperature and thus to control rutting depth and prolong the life of pavement.

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