International Conferences Developing AR Markets

AR1999      In February 1999 RPA held the first International Symposium on Asphalt-Rubber in Tempe, Arizona. The conference title was "A Global Summary of Practices." The fledgling association hoped to attract a few attendees from neighboring Canada and Mexico so the meeting could actually justify the "International" title. What a surprise when over 125 people from 17 different countries, 16 states from the U.S. and six major Universities registered for the conference. As a result of the conference several states have since started developing Asphalt-Rubber programs. Most notable are the states of Nebraska and South Carolina. Nebraska is starting its third year of AR projects and the state of South Carolina has established an "Asphalt Rubber Technology Service" (ARTS) at Clemson University, under the leadership of Dr. Serji Amirkhanian, which is assisting local agencies with AR projects through funding provided by the tire disposal fees. The province of Alberta in Canada is also starting its third year of AR use and it appears British Columbia will start its program this year. AR 2000      One of the attendees at the 1999 conference was the globetrotting, entrepreneur, Dr. Jorge B. Sousa, President of Consulpav International of Portugal and California. Dr. Sousa, an avid supporter of AR, was so impressed he organized AR 2000 in Villamoura, Portugal. That conference was another major success which led to projects in Portugal, Spain, Germany and Austria. RPA played a role as a cosponsor and funded travel for several members of its Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to attend the conference as speakers. AR 2003      Dr. Sousa, now the 2nd Vice President of RPA, noted the interest in South America and headed to Brazil to organize AR 2003. Again, RPA served as a cosponsor and funded staff and TAB members in presenting papers.      According to Dr. Sousa, the conference was attended by over 300 people "from most of the continents." Forty five peer reviewed papers were presented, most dealing with Asphalt-Rubber as defined by ASTM, covering a variety of topics including Pavement Performance and Design; Mix Properties; Binder Properties; Functional Properties, Recycling, trial sections and environmental aspects; Chip Seals with Asphalt- Rubber; and Evaluation on Materials Containing Crumb Rubber. The latter covered some rubber modified products outside the ASTM definition.      A new topic, noise reduction through the use of Asphalt-Rubber, which has captured a lot of attention worldwide, was introduced at the 2003 conference. The papers came from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Caltrans and RPA (mentioned above). ADOT and Caltrans are part of the Quiet Pavements Pilot Project established by the states and the FHWA. RPA, has been heavily involved in the issue through cooperative research with Arizona State University and is currently producing a video on "quiet" pavements. Larry Scofield, Research Engineer, ADOT presented "Development of Arizona's Quiet Pavement Research Program" and Paul R. Donovan of Illingworth and Rodkin, Inc and Bruce C. Rymer, P.E. of Caltrans presented "Measurement of Tire/Pavement Noise Sound Intensity Methodology." Copies of the papers will soon be posted on the RPA website www.rubberpavements.org or can be obtained by contacting Larry Scofield, ADOT at lscofield@dot.state.az.us , Bruce Rymer, Caltrans at bruce_rymer@dot.ca.gov or Douglas Carlson at dougc@rubberpavements.org. Copies of the Proceedings of AR 2003 can be obtained by contacting Dr. Jorge Sousa at jmbsousa@aol.com. RPA commends Dr. Sousa and the organizing committee for an excellent conference.   Douglas D. Carlson, Executive Director of RPA, "Analysis of Traffic Noise Before and After Paving with Asphalt-Rubber." Also presented "Stack Emissions with Asphalt- Rubber A Synthesis of Studies" coauthored with Don Stout, P. E., FNF Construction, Inc. Al Schulz, Tire Recycling Management Association, "2002 Asphalt-Rubber Trials in Alberta, Canada."   Jeffrey R. Smith, Past President, RPA. "Asphalt-Rubber-Stress Absorbing Membrane and Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer." (Mr. Smith was unable to attend so RPA 1st Vice President Cliff Ashcroft, FNF, Inc., California, presented the paper.)

Three TAB members, George B. Way, P.E., ADOT; Byron Lord, P.E., FHWA and Jay McQuillen, P.E., Granite Construction, authored a paper entitled "The Rubber Pavements Association, Technical Advisory Board Leading the Way in Asphalt-Rubber Research." George Way presented the paper on behalf of the 20 member Technical Advisory Board. The paper outlined the major research to date, funded by over a half million dollars from the membership of RPA. George also presented a paper entitled "OGFC Meets CRM Where the Rubber Meets the Rubber, 15 Years of Durable Success." Other RPA Members, Staff and Technical Advisors members presenting papers at AR 2003 were:   Jorge B. Sousa, Ph.D., President, Consulpav International. "A Mechanistic-Empirical Based Overlay Design Method for Reflective Cracking."   Barry Takallou, Ph.D., President of CRM of America of Arizona. "Effects of Mixing Time and Temperature on the Visco Elastic Properties of Asphalt-Rubber Binder."   Kamil Kaloush, Ph.D, Arizona State University. "Material Characteristics of Asphalt- Rubber Mixtures."   Serji Amirkhanian, Ph.D, Clemson University, "Establishment of an Asphalt-Rubber Technology Service (ARTS)."   Jack Van Kirk, P.E., Asphalt Technical Director, International Surfacing Systems (AZ), Western States Surfacing and Valley Slurry Seal (CA). "Maintenance and Rehabilitation Strategies Utilizing Asphalt-Rubber Chip Seals."z