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Pavimentazione e Materiali Stradali e Aeroportuali
Pavements and Materials for highways and airports
Francesco Canestrari

Seat Ingegneria
A.A. 2016/2017
Credits 6
Hours 48
Period I
Language ENG

Prerequisites
None

Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The course intends to provide to the students the basic and advanced knowledge concerning the mechanical behavior (e.g. visco-elastic) characterization of construction materials used in road and airport pavements. Theoretical and methodological aspects helpful for pavement structures design will be studied as well.
CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The course will provide students with specific and qualified skills to analyze and characterize road materials and structures in the context of road and airport constructions. Theoretical background and technical skills will be acquired through classroom lectures inclusive of tutorial.
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS:
Analytical and technical skills acquired will allow a detailed understanding of applied sciences and technological productive processes typical of civil engineering to be achieved. Moreover, the analysis process discussed during the tutorial sessions will favor the development of decision-making and communication skills of the students.

Program
Rheology of road materials: elasticity and plasticity of solid materials, viscosity of liquid and solid materials. Linear viscoelasticity: mechanical behaviour of viscoelastic materials, Boltzmann super-position principle, creep and relaxation tests, creep compliance and relaxation modulus. Linear rheological models: Maxwell model, Kelvin-Voight model, relaxation time and delay time spectrum, complex modulus and complex compliance. Dynamic measurements: complex modulus and dissipation, viscoelastic parameters as function of frequency (standard linear solid). Molecular mechanisms: Time-Temperature Superposition Principle (TTSP), Arrhenius equation and WLF model, master curves. Basics of material plasticity. Plastic and viscoplastic behaviour. Basics of damage analysis. Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP): equipments and test methods, analysis criteria, interpretative models and technical standards. Rheological classification of bitumens based on the Performance Grade (PG). Chemistry of bitumen. Polymer modified bitumens. Mechanical properties of bituminous mixtures. Laboratory evaluation of stress-strain response of bituminous mixtures. Fatigue and rutting resistance of flexible pavements. Rational methods for designing road and airport pavements. Adoption of the elastic multi-layers model for the structural analysis of flexible pavements. Correct determination of loadings (traffic and weather conditions). Degradation prediction models: assignments of adequate mechanical properties to the constitutive materials of each pavement layer as function of their own intrinsic characteristics and external loading conditions. Calculation of stress and strain conditions of time and thermo dependent materials such as bituminous pavement layers on the basis of loading conditions. Analysis of pavements with cement-treated materials (two-phase behaviour). Linear damage accumulation: Miner's law. Fatigue and rutting criteria for evaluating the service life of flexible pavements.

Development of the examination
LEARNING EVALUATION METHODS
the learning evaluation consists of an oral exam focused on the discussion of topics covered in class related to the mechanical behaviour (theoretical and experimental) of bituminous materials and the application of these concepts to the rational design of road and airport pavements.

LEARNING EVALUATION CRITERIA
In order to pass positively the exam, the student needs to prove a complete understanding of the topics covered in class and to have learned the theoretical and practical notions behind the mechanical behaviour of bituminous materials, as well as the procedures to measure the main representative parameters and the laws which control the failure criteria to be applied for the rational design of pavements modeled as elastic multi-layers.

LEARNING MEASUREMENT CRITERIA
During the oral exam, the student understanding of theoretical and experimental fundamentals which constitute the basis of the topics covered in class is evaluated, as well as the student ability to appropriately use equipments, models and technologies adopted in the engineering field of road construction for the rheological characterisation of bituminous materials, in addition to the tools necessary for the rational design of pavements.

FINAL MARK ALLOCATION CRITERIA
the final score is assigned out of 30. In order to pass the exam with a minimum score (18/30), the student needs to know sufficiently each topic covered in class. Higher score will be assigned based on the general and specific skills demonstrated by the student. The maximum score (30/30) will be achieved by proving an extensive knowledge of the topics covered in class. The score “cum laude“ will be assigned to students who, having achieved the maximum score, will prove a strong competence on the subject as well as brilliance in the oral presentation.

Recommended reading
Santagata, Bocci, Canestrari, Cardone, Ferrotti, Graziani, Virgili, et al. “Strade - Teoria e Tecnica delle Costruzioni Stradali“, Ed. Pearson. Slides available on the professor's webpage inside “Allegati - download“ menu (downloading through password provided by the professor).

Courses

• Ingegneria Civile (Corso di Laurea Magistrale (DM 270/04))