Damage from fuel spills, especially in aircraft parking areas, can result in major distress on asphalt airfield pavements. The spilt fuel and oils will soften the hot mix asphalt (HMA) and can result in shoving or rutting of the pavement surface. There has been much work in the past to evaluate sealers and binders that will resist the effects of fuel spills. Much of this work has been on coal tar based products. The investigation and research under Project 05-02 shall exclude coal tar based products. This effort will review past work and evaluate alternative materials and products for their resistance to problems associated with fuel spillage. The project results will provide the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and others with comprehensive guidance and recommendations on the use of materials that will improve resistance to damaging HMA pavements from fuel spillages.

Objective

The objective of this study is to develop technical guidance and recommended evaluation tests and procedures for sealers and binders that are resistant to damage which is primarily caused by repetitive small spills of aircraft fuels. It is not the intent to evaluate and endorse specific products in this research. The project shall use categorized groups of existing products by function and/or materials chemistry or properties as the primary basis recommendations. Sealer and binders (mostly polymer modified asphalt) shall be addressed separately. The project includes both a field element and a laboratory performance element. The field performance element shall consist of gathering performance histories of selected product categories to be correlated with results from recommended test protocols. The laboratory element shall consist of developing test protocols to evaluate a materials resistance to damage and establishing limits that are consistent with observed field performance results. The guidance and recommendations must consider but not be limited to the following:

1. Assemble and group the chemical and engineering properties of existing binders and sealers by similar attributes as appropriate
2. Durability, compatibility, and solubility of products
3. The location and extent of use at airports of products that claim to be resistant to asphalt pavement damage from repetitive fuel spillages
4. Understanding of a comprehensive, consistent and clear mechanism that describes the processes associated with pavement damage caused by repetitive fuel spillage
5. Test methods and procedures that reasonably address the mechanisms for damage cause by fuel spillage
6. Field performance of the categorized products/materials
7. Worker safety and environmental issues of product applications
8. Climatic and temperatures effects on product application and performance
9. Speed and frequency of application procedures
10. Materials cost and availability

Specific airport related elements that should be considered in developing a plan for this research shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Potential areas and frequency of fuel spillage
2. Potential creation of FOD (foreign object debris)
3. Potential for damage from trapped moisture in sealer applications
4. Repair /replacement issues
5. Potential for delamination of existing pavement layers
6. The wide range of climatic conditions and contributing factors from aircraft operations that the product will be subjected

Product

The recommendations and guidance shall be developed by addressing the following tasks:

Task 1 -- Review existing literature on fuel resistant binders and sealers and corresponding test methods used to evaluate resistance to fuel spillages.

Task 2 -- Collect field performance and product usage data.

Task 3 -- Conduct preliminary laboratory test to develop and assess proposed testing recommendation.

Task 4 -- Develop a detail laboratory work plan and final report table of contains. The laboratory work plan shall contain a list of products from each a product category, detail test procedures, and the rationale for selected test/s to be performed. This information should be provided to technical panel for review within 6 months from award. A meeting between the panel and the researcher shall be held at the laboratory facility within 1 month after submission of the detailed work plan. The technical panel will provide comments within 2 week of receiving the plan.

Task 5 -- Conduct materials testing per approved work plan.

Task 6 -- Evaluate test results and provided a draft report on initial findings and recommendations to the technical panel for review and comments at the approximate 60% complete mark of the project. It is anticipated that this will be about 16 months after award of the contract.

Task 7 -- Develop draft advisory circular for possible FAA adoption and standard test protocols (ASTM format) for recommended tests.

Task 8 -- Provide final report, advisory circular and test protocol. Camera ready copy of the final report and an electronic copy in press quality PDF format shall be submitted under this task.

All written documentation will be prepared using Microsoft Word. All reports will be the property of the AAPTP and Auburn University and will be supplied in a format that complies with the FAA's Section 508 requirements for electronic documents.

Reporting Requirements

Progress Reports

Quarterly progress reports (2 hard copies and an electronic copy in Microsoft Word format) are required from the research agency and are to be prepared on the basis of calendar quarters. The research agency will mail the report directly to the AAPTP and will e-mail each of the members of the technical review panel a copy of the progress report. Each report will include a cover letter and the following:

1. a clear and complete description of the work performed on each task during that quarter;
2. an outline of the work to be accomplished during the next quarter;
3. a description of any problem(s) encountered or anticipated that might affect the completion of the project within the time and fiscal constraints recommended;
4. potential solutions to problems identified in (c) if any exist.

Report Format

The formats for the Interim and Final reports are provided under "Forms."

Contractual Information

Funds Available: $300,000

Contract Time: 24 months (includes 1 month for AAPTP to review and for the contractor to revise the final report.)

Laboratory Accreditation: Any laboratory performing work on this study should be fully accredited by the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory or similar accreditation organization to do asphalt mix design testing and aggregate testing. Laboratories not fully accredited must provide information as to procedures or processes used to meet quality standards equivalent to AASHTO accreditation.

Staff Responsibility: Monte Symons, 334-844-4964, symonmg@auburn.edu

Proposals Due: May 19, 2006

Submit Proposals To: AAPTP, 277 Technology Parkway, Auburn, AL, 36830

Authorization to Begin Work: July 1, 2006 -- estimated