https://etalpykla.vilniustech.lt/handle/123456789/153864 2026-04-26T18:34:05Z https://etalpykla.vilniustech.lt/handle/123456789/160379 Do meteorological and road conditions influence Animal-Vehicle Collisions? Ignatavičius, Gytautas; Ulevičius, Alius; Valskys, Vaidotas; Matačina, Lina Significant uncertainty remains regarding the relationship between meteorological conditions and Animal- Vehicle Collisions (AVCs). This study aimed to evaluate the influence of meteorological and related road conditions on AVC occurrence in Lithuania. Meteorological data and collision records from 56 automatic weather stations were linked with 1,632 AVCs reported between 2018 and 2022. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that meteorological variables form two statistically significant groups with contrasting associations with AVC occurrence. The first group – characterized by higher air and road surface temperatures, greater visibility, and a higher road adhesion coefficient – was positively associated with AVC occurrence. In contrast, the second group, defined by snow and ice cover, rain intensity, and the presence of water on the road surface, showed a negative association with AVC occurrence. These findings suggest that AVC risk increases under favourable driving conditions, likely due to changes in driver behaviour, whereas adverse weather conditions may reduce collision risk as drivers tend to exercise greater caution. Overall, the results provide new insights into the role of meteorological and road conditions in AVC dynamics and highlight the importance of considering human behavioural responses when developing AVC mitigation strategies. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://etalpykla.vilniustech.lt/handle/123456789/160378 Adhesion between different asphalt binders and aggregate types evaluated using boiling water stripping test in scope of WMA foaming technique Chomicz-Kowalska, Anna; Maciejewski, Krzysztof This study examines adhesion mechanisms in binder–aggregate systems designed to simulate warm-mix asphalt incorporating water-foamed bitumen. The experimental program involved limestone, gabbro, melaphyre and quartzite aggregates, along with four paving-grade asphalt binders (50/70 and 45/80-55) originating from two different refineries. Adhesion performance was assessed using the boiling water stripping test, with residual binder coverage quantified through digital image analysis. In addition, dynamic viscosity measurements of the asphalt binders at relevant temperatures were conducted, and the petrographic analysis of the composition of aggregates was conducted. The samples produced with conventional (liquid) binders were mixed at temperatures representative of hot-mix asphalt production while reduced temperatures typical of warm-mix asphalt technology (20 °C lower) were used with the foamed asphalt binders. With the limestone and gabbro aggregates most of the experiments yielded over 90% residual binder coverage after the boiling test. The melaphyre and quartzite aggregates revealed on the other hand significant differences between the performance of the binders in terms of their type, origin and their form. The foamed binders with lowered mixing temperatures produced on average approx. 5% point lower residual binder coverage in melaphyre and quartzite while in limestone and gabbro the average difference was only 1% point. The source refinery of the asphalt binder significantly affected adhesion outcomes; however, the supplementary rheological and chemical analyses did not fully account for the observed discrepancies. Overall, the findings suggest that the foaming process itself may enhance the water resistance of asphalt binder-aggregate systems. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://etalpykla.vilniustech.lt/handle/123456789/160377 The effect of fiber reinforcement on the high-temperature performance of Warm Mix Asphalt produced using water-foaming technology Chomicz-Kowalska, Anna; Janus, Karolina The paper presents an evaluation of the influence of fiber type and content on the properties of mineral-asphalt mixtures produced using foamed bitumen technology. The effects of selected factors, including the type of asphalt binder, the type of fibers, and their content, on the high-temperature performance of AC 11 asphalt concrete mixtures intended for wearing courses were analyzed. Aramid fibers and polymer-basalt fibers, applied in varying amounts, were used as dispersed reinforcement. The study also included a reference mixture produced and compacted using conventional Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) technology. In contrast, Warm-Mix Asphalt (WMA) mixtures with foamed bitumen were manufactured at a temperature reduced by 30 °C compared to the reference mixture. The evaluated basic properties of the asphalt mixtures included air void content and moisture sensitivity, determined using the indirect tensile strength ratio after one freeze-thaw cycle. High-temperature performance was assessed based on resistance to rutting, expressed by the wheel tracking slope and proportional rut depth, as well as the stiffness modulus determined by the static creep test. The obtained results indicate that reducing the production temperature of asphalt concrete mixtures by 30 °C is feasible through the application of dispersed fiber reinforcement while maintaining performance parameters comparable to those of the reference HMA mixture. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://etalpykla.vilniustech.lt/handle/123456789/160376 Environmental and functional role of recycled crumb rubber in hot-applied joint sealants based on rheological and microstructural evaluation Stępień, Justyna; Maciejewski, Krzysztof; Remišova, Eva Hot-applied joint sealants are widely used to seal cracks and expansion joints in road and bridge pavements. Recycled Crumb Rubber (CRM) derived from end-of-life tires is frequently incorporated to enhance flexibility and deformation resistance while supporting circular economy strategies through waste valorization. However, conventional specification tests (e.g., EN 14188-1) may not fully reflect the influence of rubber dispersion and microstructure on long-term performance. This study evaluates the functional and environmental relevance of CRM in seven commercially available hot-applied joint sealants obtained from five European manufacturers. The materials, including five rubber modified sealants and two comparative sealants, were characterized using fluorescence microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to assess phase morphology and rubber distribution. Rheological performance was investigated using dynamic shear rheometry, including Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) at 60 °C and Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (LAS) at 10 °C. The results demonstrate that sealants compliant with the same specification types (N1/N2) may exhibit markedly different microstructures and viscoelastic responses. Variations in crumb rubber content and filler fraction significantly affected resistance to permanent deformation at high temperature and fatigue performance at low temperature. Materials with a more homogeneous rubber dispersion generally showed improved rheological performance. From an environmental perspective, the effective use of CRM not only diverts waste tires from landfill, but may also improve sealant durability, potentially reducing maintenance frequency and material consumption over the service life of infrastructure systems. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z