Alex Apeagyei
UIUC Civil Engineering Ph.D. Candidate, Alex Apeagyei, is the first student from CEAT's FAA sponsored Minority Internship Program to complete his Ph.D. through the research of the Center. Alex received his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University in May 2002. During the summer of 2001 prior to his senior year, he applied for an internship research opportunity at CEAT through NC A&T State University. Alex was accepted to the summer program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and started working on a project with Professor Barry Dempsey that would eventually lead to his research for a graduate degree and Ph.D.
Alex is originally from Ghana, Africa and moved to the U.S. to start his undergraduate studies at NC A&T State University in Civil Engineering. He was one of five undergraduate students in Civil Engineering at NC A&T State University who was accepted to a Summer Internship position through CEAT at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in May 2001. The Center was in its first year of implementing an Outreach Program, sponsored by the FAA, to provide research opportunities for underrepresented student groups. During his summer internship, Alex was impressed by the research facilities and faculty at CEAT and the Department of Civil Engineering at UIUC. The internship helped him choose the University of Illinois to purse a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. During the summer of 2001, Alex participated in Center activities and conferences. At the FAA 2nd Joint Annual COE Meeting in Wichita, KS, in October, 2002, he gave a presentation on his summer internship experience with CEAT. He also attended two other FAA COE Annual Meetings.
Alex's research is based on the Development of Antioxidant Treatments for Asphalt Binders and Mixtures. This research was done at the Advanced Transportation Research and Engineering Laboratory (ATREL) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Laboratory in Rantoul, IL. He credits Prof. Dempsey to much of his success as a summer intern and research assistant. Dempsey helped introduce him to civil engineering research during the Summer Internship. Alex stated, "Everything I needed was there for running tests and the testing facilities had everything to offer." Professor Bill Buttlar has also been an important faculty advisor whom Alex has worked closely with during his research studies over the past two years. Buttlar was an outstanding mentor for Alex in his Ph.D. research and studies.
Alex defended his Ph.D. Thesis on November 2, 2005. He has been awarded a CEE Teaching Fellowship for Spring Semester 2006 that will support his offering of CEE 407 Airport Design, a course for upper division undergraduates and graduate students. In addition, Alex will stay on in a Post Doctorate position to pursue research activities in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UIUC.
Following is an abstract of his Ph.D. Dissertation:
Name: Alex K. Apeagyei
Advisors: Prof Bill Buttlar, Prof Barry Dempsey
Title of Dissertation: Development of Antioxidant Treatments for Asphalt Binders and Mixtures
ABSTRACT
Asphalt binders are used extensively in the construction of pavements. More than 95% of all pavements in service today have asphalt incorporated in them. The widespread use of asphalt binders in pavements has generated great interest over the years in their durability. The durability of asphalts is greatly influenced by the oxidation process that occurs as a result of the reaction between atmospheric oxygen and asphalt. Two types of oxidation occur: first during hot-mix production called short-term aging and, secondly during service called long-term aging. The major consequence of oxidation is the progressive hardening and increased brittleness that occur over time in a phenomenon commonly referred to as age-hardening. Previous studies have shown that durability of asphalt mixes could be enhanced by controlling oxidation through the use of antioxidants. The success of using antioxidants to reduce asphalt aging has been limited and the need for more effective antioxidant treatments still remains.
Recognizing the need for more effective antioxidants to control asphalt age hardening, eight additives were evaluated based on their potential to reduce age-hardening in asphalts. The selected additives were used to modify a PG 64 -22 asphalt binder in the laboratory. The modified binders were then subjected to accelerated laboratory aging using the Rolling Thin Film Oven to simulate short-term aging and the Pressure Aging Vessel to simulate long-term aging. Rheological measurements using the Dynamic Shear Rheometer and the Bending Beam Rheometer were used to screen those antioxidants showing significant reduction in age-hardening. Asphalt concrete mixtures containing the most promising antioxidant additive were fabricated, artificially aged, and tested. The results of the binder and mixture tests indicate that asphalt aging could be significantly reduced through the use of antioxidants.