Project Description
The faculty obtained aggregates from quarries and pits located from various locations around Wisconsin. This aggregate is main component is paving materials such as asphalt mixtures and Portland cement concrete pavements as well as in bridges. Due to harsh weather conditions in Wisconsin such materials go through freezing and thawing many times during winter. These cycles will eventually break up and degrade roads and bridges if the aggregate quality is marginal or poor. The objective of this research is find a threshold of specification based on laboratory tests to distinguish good/excellent aggregate from poor/marginal aggregates and therefore increase the longevity of transportation infrastructure. To accomplish this objective, the researchers will preform tests of aggregates in the automated freezing/thawing chamber in the lab, will perform aggregates soundness tests in the lab and process the results to evaluate the quality of aggregates. The statistical analysis will be conducted to establish the limits of identifying excellent/good aggregates from marginal poor materials.
Tasks and Responsibilites
1. Prepare the aggregate by preforming sieve analysis
2. Prepare the solutions of sodium sulfate mixture for soundness test
3. Prepare the solution of water-methanol mixture for freeze-thaw test
4. Soak the aggregate with the appropriate solution using the described method
5. Run the test cycles between drying in the oven and soaking for sodium sulfate test and setup the automated freeze thaw chamber to run the automated tests by programming the temperature-time cycles according to the standard test procedure.
Desired Qualifications
None Listed.