Title
Simulation and Characterization of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures
Publisher
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory
Abstract
This report summarizes the results of an effort to characterize pavement temperature that
includes analysis of measured asphalt temperature data from the MnROAD facility and
simulations of pavement temperature using a heat transfer model. The measured
pavement temperatures are characterized at daily and seasonal time scales, including
daily extreme temperatures and temperature gradients, diurnal cycling, and seasonal
variations. A one-dimensional finite difference model is used to simulate pavement
temperature based on climate parameters such as air temperature, solar radiation, and
wind velocity. The temperature simulations provide more detailed information on
temperature gradients in the pavement and on the surface heat transfer components than
the measurements, and also help to evaluate the quality of the pavement temperature and
climate measurements. Overall, the pavement temperature model is able to simulate
asphalt temperature to within a 1 to 2°C mean error, but with higher error for winter
conditions due to intermittent snow/ice cover and freeze-thaw processes. The pavement
temperature simulations are useful to identify the processes and weather conditions that
produce the extreme changes in pavement, such as rapid cooling during precipitation
events. The pavement temperature model was also able to simulate pavement
temperatures at RWIS sites, and therefore could provide a means to check the quality of
RWIS climate and pavement temperature data.
Funding information
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Suggested Citation
Herb, William; Marasteanu, Mihai; Stefan, Heinz G..
(2006).
Simulation and Characterization of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures.
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory.
Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy,
https://hdl.handle.net/11299/113686.