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New experimental methods for characterizing formation and decay of foam bitumen

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Abstract

Formation and decay of foam bitumen is a highly dynamic temperature dependent process which makes characterization difficult. In this research, new experimental tools were applied for characterizing the bitumen foam during the foaming process. Ultrasonic sensors were used for accurately monitoring the expansion and decay of foam bitumen as a function of time. Assessment of foam bitumen viscosity was performed using high frequency torsional rheometer and in situ observation by X-ray radiography. A high-speed camera was applied for examining the foam bitumen stream right at the nozzle revealing that foam bitumen at a very early stage contains fragmented pieces of irregular size rather resembling a liquid than foam. Moreover, infrared thermal images were taken for obtaining information on the in situ surface temperature of foam bitumen during the hot foaming process. The result showed that the average surface temperature of foam bitumen depends on the water content of the bitumen and bubble size distribution, 108 and 126 °C for 4 and 1 wt% (by weight) water content respectively. The residual water content in the decaying foam bitumen was determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The result demonstrated that residual water content depends on the initial water content, and was found to be between 38 and 48 wt% of the initial water content of 4–6 wt%. Finally, X-ray computed tomography was applied for examining the decay of foam bitumen revealing that the bubbles of foam bitumen remain trapped close to the surface of the foam bitumen.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Anton Demarmels, Ammann Construction Equipment (Ammann Schweiz AG, CH-4901 Langenthal, Switzerland). Jae Bong Lee and Peter Moonen from Building Science and Technology laboratory EMPA. Group members of the Road Engineering/Sealing Components lab, EMPA (Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, Switzerland). Finally the Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI, Switzerland and Ammann Schweiz AG, Switzerland are greatly appreciated for financing the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infrastructure Engineering, Division of Highway and Railway Engineering, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    Biruk W. Hailesilassie

  2. Road Engineering/Sealing Components, EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600, Duebendorf, Switzerland

    Martin Hugener

  3. AmmannSchweiz AG, Eisenbahnstrasse 25, 4901, Langenthal, Switzerland

    Andrea Bieder

  4. KTH Stockholm, Division of Highway and Railway Engineering, Director Road Engineering/Sealing Components, EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600, Duebendorf, Switzerland

    Manfred N. Partl

Authors
  1. Biruk W. Hailesilassie
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  2. Martin Hugener
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  3. Andrea Bieder
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  4. Manfred N. Partl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Biruk W. Hailesilassie.

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Hailesilassie, B.W., Hugener, M., Bieder, A. et al. New experimental methods for characterizing formation and decay of foam bitumen. Mater Struct 49, 2439–2454 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0659-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0659-6

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