Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Advisor 1
Zhanping You
Committee Member 1
Edward Laitila
Committee Member 2
Patricia Heiden
Committee Member 3
Robert Handler
Committee Member 4
Mohammad Sadeghi
Abstract
The reuse of waste glass in asphalt mixtures has significant potential in sustainable pavement engineering, yet its performance under cold, freeze–thaw conditions remain underexplored. This dissertation presents a first-of-its-kind comprehensive evaluation of glass asphalt for cold regions, simultaneously assessing its low-temperature cracking resistance, moisture susceptibility, field performance, and life-cycle environmental impacts. A series of laboratory tests were performed on asphalt mixtures incorporating various proportions of crushed waste glass aggregate, including Disk-Shaped Compact Tension (DCT) and Indirect Tensile (IDT) tests for low-temperature fracture resistance, and Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) and Hamburg Wheel Tracking (HWTT) tests for moisture damage and rutting susceptibility. Surface and chemical analyses such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Surface Free Energy (SFE) measurements were used to examine the asphalt–glass interfacial bonding and to evaluate the effects of glass surface treatments (acid and alkali washing). Optimal glass contents were identified for both the leveling course and the surface course. To validate the laboratory findings, a demonstration construction project was constructed, and field core samples were analyzed post-construction. Additionally, mechanistic–empirical pavement simulations (Pavement ME) were conducted to project long-term performance, and a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to quantify environmental benefits.
Results indicate that incorporating waste glass into asphalt can significantly improve low-temperature cracking resistance, effectively mitigating thermal cracking in freeze–thaw environments. While untreated glass slightly increased moisture susceptibility, the application of glass surface treatments and the use of anti-stripping additives markedly improved moisture durability, as evidenced by higher TSR values and reduced stripping in HWTT. Field performance of the glass asphalt section, supported by Pavement ME predictions, confirmed that using glass in the leveling course beneath a rubber-modified asphalt surface layer is a viable design for cold regions, achieving comparable or better resistance to cracking and rutting than conventional pavements. LCA results further show that glass asphalt can reduce environmental impacts through decreased virgin material usage and lower greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring its sustainability advantages. This comprehensive study provides a foundation for the practical adoption of glass asphalt, offering evidence-based insights that can inform transportation agency specifications and policies. The findings demonstrate that with proper mixture design and treatment, glass asphalt is a durable, eco-friendly alternative, bridging the gap between laboratory research and field application in pursuit of sustainable infrastructure.
Recommended Citation
Xin, Kai, "PERFORMANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF WASTE GLASS ASPHALT IN COLD REGIONS", Open Access Dissertation, Michigan Technological University, 2025.