Bituminous Materials and Binders Overview

Viscous liquids used as binders in road construction, typically mixed with aggregates.

Semi-solid hydrocarbon used as a bituminous binder.

Asphalt dispersed in water, an alternative to cutback asphalt.

Damage to a road surface due to excessive load or repeated stress resulting in roughening and cracking.

Combination of mineral aggregates and binders forming a road surface.

Dynamic forces between individual cars in a train that can cause instability or breakage under certain conditions.

They are used to transport perishable goods like unpasteurized beer, produce, and dairy products. They have plug doors and special insulation to maintain a specific temperature.

They have diesel-powered refrigeration units to keep goods cold during long transit times, commonly used for fresh produce and meat.

They have doors that open the full length of the car for easy loading of long, package lumber products like plywood and gypsum board.

Open-top cars typically used to haul coal or wood chips, similar in volume to open-top hopper cars but requiring a rotary coupler for unloading.

Forces acting along the length of a train, caused by acceleration and deceleration, that can impact the train's stability.

They dampen longitudinal shock at the couplers, reducing instability and breakage.

The force that a locomotive exerts to pull a train, important for calculating longitudinal forces and maximizing efficiency.

Freight cars designed to transport containers, accommodating double-stacked containers for increased capacity.

Used to haul bulk commodities like coal, ore, and wood chips, featuring an open top for easy loading and unloading.

The width of the doors on a boxcar, ranging from 6 to 10 ft for single doors and 16 to 20 ft for double doors. All-door cars have openings exceeding 25 ft.

Features designed to secure cargo safely, ranging from tie-downs for vehicles to bulkheads for pulpwood.

Metal tracks that guide the train wheels, transfer load weight, and resist temperature changes.

Components that secure rails to ties, ensuring stability and preventing rail movement.

Wooden or concrete supports placed perpendicular to rails, distributing load and maintaining rail alignment.

Components providing structural support for the truck frame, allowing flexibility while carrying loads.

A type of railroad car specifically designed to transport coal, often used for dedicated unit train services between mines and power plants.

Boxcars with a large inside volume (around 10,000 cubic feet) designed to carry lightweight materials like paper products or automotive parts.

Flat cars with enclosed sides, used for hauling heavy and bulky cargo like lumber, pipe, or pulpwood.

Railroad cars used for transporting dry, bulk commodities that need protection from the environment, such as grains or powdered materials. They have a roof and bottom discharge outlets.

Tank cars are used for transporting liquids, compressed gases, and materials that can be loaded or unloaded in a liquid state, like sulfur.

Tank cars carrying liquids that are not considered hazardous, such as corn syrup, crude oil, or mineral water, often use non-pressure cars.

Tank cars carrying hazardous substances like LPG, vinyl chloride, or anhydrous ammonia are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Dry bituminous mixtures, lacking enough binder, are more susceptible to cracking under stress, as the aggregate particles have less adhesion.

Asphalt's viscosity changes with temperature - it's more fluid when hot and brittle when cold. This impacts its ability to bind and resist stress.

A road surface made from a combination of mineral aggregates and binders, creating a durable layer for traffic.

A good bituminous binder must meet several criteria to ensure proper pavement performance. These criteria are: 1. It must resist environmental factors (weather). 2. It must resist internal moisture. 3. It needs a tight or porous impermeable surface for the sub-base. 4. It must provide a smooth and skid-free surface. 5. It must be durable and resist cracking from heavy loads.

Durability ensures that the pavement can withstand repeated stress from heavy loads, preventing premature cracking and failure. This helps maintain the road surface for a longer time and reduces maintenance costs.

Bituminous binders can face challenges like inadequate resistance to environmental conditions (like extreme temperatures) or internal moisture, which can lead to degradation and pavement failure.

Bituminous binders are mixed with aggregate in two main ways: 1. Hot mixing: Here, the viscous binder is heated to a fluid state and mixed with heated aggregates. 2. Cold mixing: In this method, liquid asphalt or emulsion asphalt is mixed with aggregates at normal temperature, either by a plant or on the road.

Excessively heavy loads can cause deflection in the pavement, leading to cracking and roughening. Continuous heavy loads will eventually lead to complete pavement failure.

A dense, graded road surface made from hot mineral aggregates, mixed with hot asphalt and laid at high temperatures (275-300 F). It's the strongest type of bituminous pavement, ideal for high traffic roads.

A layer of asphalt applied to the base of a road before the asphalt concrete is laid. It binds loose particles, prevents moisture from reaching the pavement, and helps the asphalt concrete stick.

A process for building roads where crushed stones are laid and compacted, then sprayed with heated or emulsified asphalt binder. This creates a durable, stable surface.

When a material bends under pressure but returns to its original shape when the pressure is removed. It happens in the base and subsoil of roads.

The gradual weakening and cracking of a material due to repeated stress. It happens in asphalt roads when heavy vehicles repeatedly drive over the same area.