Asphalt Membrane Emulsion for Void Reduction in Road Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in road construction is the formation of longitudinal joints with lower density and higher air voids, leading to permeability issues, air and water intrusion, and subsequent crack formation, which results in road failures requiring costly repairs and traffic disruptions.
Innovation Solution
An asphalt membrane emulsion comprising asphalt, an asphalt modifier, mineral filler, an emulsifier, and water is applied to fill cracks, reducing voids and improving adhesion by forming a cured membrane within the joint, enhancing the road's durability and reducing maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If roads are paved in multiple passes to complete the roadway, then the paving can be completed without closing the entire road, but the longitudinal joints formed between passes have lower density and higher air voids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a sealant emulsion to the longitudinal joint before the second pass of paving material is placed. This preliminary treatment of the joint area ensures that when the second pass is laid, the emulsion has already begun to fill and seal the voids, improving adhesion and reducing air pockets before the final compaction occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a specifically formulated sealant emulsion with controlled viscosity and composition that changes parameters of the joint material. The emulsion contains agents that reduce surface tension and improve wetting, allowing it to penetrate and fill voids more effectively, thereby changing the density and adhesive properties of the joint area.
2Manufacturing precision
If the edge of the paved lane is compacted, then the density increases, but the unconfined edge cannot be sufficiently compacted resulting in lower density
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant emulsion acts as an intermediary material applied to the longitudinal joint and edge areas that are difficult to compact. This emulsion flows into voids and adheres to surfaces, creating a bonded structure that doesn't require the same level of mechanical compaction as the main pavement body, thereby achieving adequate density in hard-to-compact areas.
3Ease of manufacture
If longitudinal joints have higher air voids, then the joint formation is simpler, but permeability increases allowing air and water intrusion leading to crack formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of air voids in longitudinal joints into a benefit by using the same void-space-filling approach. The sealant emulsion is designed to flow into and fill the air voids that naturally form during multi-pass paving, transforming these harmful permeable spaces into filled, adhesive bonds that prevent water and air intrusion while maintaining ease of joint formation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The asphalt membrane emulsion effectively reduces voids in asphalt joints, improving adhesion and durability, thereby preventing crack formation and extending the lifespan of road surfaces while minimizing repair costs and traffic disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
improving adhesion by forming a cured membrane within the joint
Implementation Method 2
mixing the first phase and second phase in the colloid mill to form the asphalt membrane emulsion
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is an asphalt membrane emulsion for reducing voids in an asphalt joint that includes asphalt, an asphalt modifier, mineral filler, an emulsifier, and water. Provided herein is a method of making an asphalt membrane emulsion, the method including: forming a first phase; forming a second phase; pumping the first phase and the second phase into a colloid mill; and mixing the first phase and second phase into the colloid mill to form the asphalt membrane emulsion. The first phase includes asphalt, asphalt modifier, and mineral filler. The second phase includes water and an emulsifier. A method of applying an asphalt membrane emulsion to fill a crack is also provided.