Economic strategies for low-temperature transportation of asphalt pavement: a comparative analysis of temperature variations

Highway construction strategies impact the early damage of asphalt pavement and its sustainability. The pavement quality is directly influenced by the temperature segregation of the mixture during transportation, which has rarely been investigated. Low-temperature transportation strategies for highway pavement are proposed by assessing the temperature variations in the mixture through field tests. The extreme condition of winter construction is considered, and the effects of insulation materials are considered in laboratory and field tests. A 3D Multiphysics Coupling Finite Element model is developed in COMSOL to analyse the heat transfer mechanism. The vehicle speed, thermal conductivity and ambient temperatures are considered in this parametric study. The economic efficiency of intelligent transportation is improved by optimising the effective area and the thickness of insulation materials. This study aims to propose economic strategies to avoid the temperature segregation of pavement materials and to explore more environmentally friendly insulation measures for low-temperature highway constructions.