Abstract

ABSTRACT Prediction of solvent diffusion and evaporation rate in the initial days after construction of a sprayed seal is of special concern for pavement performance assessment. It is still a major challenge as solvent evaporation is a very complicated process. In this study, laboratory tests were conducted on bitumen-solvent binder films, under different experimental conditions and varying solvent properties. A solution of Fick’s diffusion equation was then used to calculate solvent diffusion coefficient (D) values for the initial 7 days. While a strong correlation was found between D and solvent viscosity as well as D and solvent distillation range, no relationship was found between D and solvent aniline point nor aromatic content. These findings were utilised in developing a multiple linear regression (MLR) diffusion model for the initial 7 days of evaporation. The evaluation of the model indicated close agreement between the predictions and experimental values (R 2 = 0.95). The model enables road agencies to predict solvent diffusion and residual solvent for the early life of a sprayed seal without needing to conduct extensive experiments thereby saving time and labour cost. Accurate prediction of residual solvent via the developed model will further ensure long-term performance of sprayed seals.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.