Some Fallouts from IRC:37-2012

By
Prof. Prithvi Singh Kandhal
Associate Director Emeritus
National Center for Asphalt Technology
Auburn University, Alabama USA

Background
Lots of effort
No research funding from MORTH
Expectations to advance the pavement
design technology
Advantage taken by consultants/contractors

KANDHAL

Some Fallouts from IRC:37-2012

Supply of Jugad VG-40 Bitumen
Under designing the thickness of asphalt
pavements

KANDHAL

IRC:37-2012
Mr of Mix with VG-30
1700 MPa
Mr of Mix with PMB
1650 MPa
Mr of Mix with VG-40
3000 MPa
Annexure III: Example of how thickness of
DBM can be reduced by using VG-40 in
lieu of VG-30
Guidelines?

KANDHAL

Supply of VG-40 Bitumen

Sudden demand; oil companies not prepared to

supply
Fly-by-night, third parties cropped up across India
Jugad VG-40 supplied by:
- Air blowing
- Adding Poly-Phosphoric Acid (PPA)
- Adding Gilsonite
- Adding some polymer
- What not?
KANDHAL

Supply of VG-40 Bitumen

IS:73 states all VG grades to be
manufactured by conventional refining
processes
No clear directions from MORTH or NHAI
Jungle Raj of Jugad VG-40 continued
Appeal to NHAI Chairman in October 2015
Circular issued on 21 January 2016 still
ambiguous on Jugad Processes

KANDHAL

Under Designing of Asphalt

Pavements
Mr of Mix with VG-30
1700 MPa
Mr of Mix with PMB
1650 MPa
Mr of Mix with VG-40
3000 MPa
Mr of Mix not dependent on viscosity
alone; there are 6 other factors
Lets assume it depends on viscosity alone,
still there cannot be some much difference
generally between VG-30 and VG-40

KANDHAL

Comparison of VG-30 and VG-40

VG-30 Viscosity Range 2400 to 3600 poises
VG-40 Viscosity Range 3200 to 4800 poises
Overlap 3200 to 3600 poises (History of VG10, VG-20 and VG-40 in the US)
It is quite possible VG-30 may have higher
viscosity than VG-40 from another source
BPCL marketing VG grade bitumen which
satisfies both VG-30 and VG-40 Specifications

KANDHAL

AASHTO MEPDG
Still being implemented in the US
Dynamic modulus (analogous to Mr) is
used
Level 1 Design requires direct measurement
of modulus
Levels 2 and 3 Designs allow use of
Witczak Equation to calculate modulus

KANDHAL

Asphalt Mix Properties: Level 2 and 3

(Witczak Equation)
log E * 1.249937 0.02932 200 0.001767( 200 ) 2 0.002841 4 0.058097Va
Vbeff
0.802208
V V
a
beff

where:

E*

2
3
.
871977

0
.
0021

0
.
003958

0
.
000017
(

)
0.005470 34
4
38
38

1 e ( 0.603313 0.313351 log( f ) 0.393532 log( ))

f
Va
Vbeff
34
38
4
200

dynamic modulus, 105 psi.

=
bitumen viscosity, 106 Poise.
=
loading frequency, Hz.
=
air void content, %.
=
effective bitumen content, % by volume.
=
cumulative % retained on the in sieve.
=
cumulative % retained on the 3/8 in sieve.
=
cumulative % retained on the No. 4 sieve.
=
% passing the No. 200 sieve.

KANDHAL

Function of:
Asphalt binder viscosity
Loading frequency
Air void content
Effective binder content
% Retained on 19 mm, 9.5 mm and 4.76
mm sieves
% Passing 0.075 mm sieve

KANDHAL

CANNON

Witczak Dynamic Modulus Equation

100
A9

What should we do - Measure Mr

with ASTM D 7369-09?
This is what NHAI Circular of January 2016
states. Test the actual mix
How many laboratories in India have the
ASTM Test Equipment and expertise?
Verification laboratories?
Can MORTH or NHAI provide the training
and guidance?
Cannot design pavement at DPR stage; only
after JMF is established

KANDHAL

What should we do Use Witczak

Equation?
Too complex to implement; need viscosity
at pavement design temperature
Effect of high temperature prevailing in
India not represented
Still cannot design pavement at DPR stage;
only after JMF is established

KANDHAL

Then, what should we do now?

Use Mr of 1700 MPa for all mixes
regardless of bitumen type or grade like we
did prior to 2012
Even US is doing the same right now;
MEPDG has been adopted by one state only
Require the use of VG-40 above a critical
level of design traffic
Require the use of PMB (no CRMB) above
a still higher critical level of design traffic

KANDHAL

Then, what should we do now?

There is no doubt that at the same level of
Mr, mix with elastomer PMB (no CRMB)
generally has more resistance to rutting and
fatigue cracking compared to both VG-30
and VG-40. This is based on world
experience.
Mix with PMB is also justified based on
life/cycle costs for high traffic roads

KANDHAL

Action Points for NHAI

Reissue an unambiguous circular stating all VG

grades including VG-40 shall be produced by
conventional refining processes only
Issue a circular with a modification of IRC:37-2012
for NHs by stating (a) delete all Mr values based on
bitumen type and/or grade and use Mr of 1700 MPa
for all mixes, and (b) delete Annexure III (Example)
Do not wait for MORTH or IRC because they are not
likely to take the preceding action promptly.
Request MORTH to fund further research on this.
KANDHAL

Circulars
Simple
Clear
Practical
Implementable

KANDHAL