Abstract

Magneto-rheological fluids are materials that exhibit a significant change in their rheological properties in the presence of a magnetic field. Because of such a field-dependent behavior, they can act as smart materials in applications in which changeable performances are desired. In road pavement engineering, the use of bitumen-based magneto-rheological fluids may open innovative scenarios related to the construction of smart pavement sections and to the investigation of damage mechanisms in binders and mixtures. The research work presented in this study explored magneto-rheological properties of several field-responsive bituminous binders obtained from two different base bitumens combined with multi-wall carbon nanotubes and powder iron. The experimental program included oscillatory shear loading tests at different temperatures, performed in the strain controlled mode by means of a dynamic shear rheometer equipped with a magneto-rheological device. The investigation was carried out with the specific goal of identifying critical issues which should be taken into account in materials preparation, testing procedures and data analysis. Undesired overheating of specimens during testing was identified and taken into account for a correct interpretation of experimental data. Thus, while the field-sensitivity of carbon nanotubes was found to be negligible as a result of the magnetic shielding action of bitumen, it was shown that powder iron can significantly affect the magneto-rheological properties of bituminous binders when employed in sufficiently high amounts. Moreover, obtained results indicated that selection of base bitumen is a key factor in designing bituminous-based smart materials. Practical implications which derive from the study are mainly relative to the fine-tuning of laboratory characterization procedures which should necessarily overcome current limitations in temperature regulation and magnetic field generation. Experimental data presented in this study also suggest that future development of pavement magnetic sensing techniques should consider the combined effects of temperature and field intensity.

Highlights

  • Rheological properties which have been reported to be sensitive to magnetic fields for this type of material includeMagneto-rheological fluids are materials that exhibit yield stress, shear viscosity and complex modulus.a significant change in their rheological properties in the Observed changes occur instantaneously, are typically presence of a magnetic field

  • The research work presented in this study explored magneto-rheological properties of several field-responsive bituminous binders obtained from two different base bitumens combined with multi-wall carbon nanotubes and powder iron

  • While the field-sensitivity of carbon nanotubes was found to be negligible as a result of the magnetic shielding action of bitumen, it was shown that powder iron can significantly affect the magneto-rheological properties of bituminous binders when employed in sufficiently high amounts

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Summary

Introduction

A significant change in their rheological properties in the Observed changes occur instantaneously, are typically presence of a magnetic field. This is due to their peculiar dependent upon magnitude of external magnetic field and internal structure which consists in a stable dispersion in a base fluid of field-responsive molecules or particles that can be polarized and aligned with field direction are totally reversible (Wen et al, 2008; Choi and Jhon, 2009; Fang et al, 2009; Kang et al, 2011). Other possible applications are related to the opportunity of investigating damage mechanisms of bituminous binders and mixtures by integrating traditional measurement techniques with the application of magnetic fields in controlled conditions

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