Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025

Department

General Engineering

First Advisor

Vito Francioso

Abstract

This thesis proposes a transformative vision for highway infrastructure, prioritizing sustainability, resilience, and innovation. Concentrating on California's Interstate 80, a vital freight and commuter corridor that is vulnerable to climate variability and structural issues, this research introduces an innovative pavement design. This design seeks to address the system's ongoing challenges while aligning with California's ambitious climate and infrastructure objectives.

Utilizing cutting-edge materials and design techniques, this solution incorporates a comprehensive three-layer Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) system designed for durability and high performance. The top layer features an Open-Graded Friction Course (OGFC), enhanced with 3.5% Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) to improve permeability, mitigate hydroplaning risks, and facilitate effective stormwater filtration. Below this, the Warm Mix Asphalt intermediate layer is blended with 25% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and 1.2% hydrated lime, providing outstanding load distribution, resistance to fatigue, and protection against moisture. At the base, a dense, robust WMA layer with minimized air voids and 15% RAP guarantees structural stability and prolongs fatigue life.

The environmental performance was confirmed using FHWA’s (Federal Highway Administration) LCA Pave tool, which showed that this design decreases global warming potential and embodied energy by more than 30% in comparison to traditional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Additionally, it successfully fulfills Caltrans’s 40-year service life requirement and aligns with the Buy Clean California Act and SB-253 emissions targets.

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