PREDICTING THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM ASPHALT PAVEMENT TEMPERATURES ON ABUJA TO KADUNA RAILWAY LINE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The subject of temperature variations in asphalt pavement layers has been studied at various times in the past, because asphalt pavement layer is very sensitive to temperature. The ability to predict temperature variations at any depth in asphalt pavement at a construction site is critical to its performance and behaviour. The aim of this study was to predict the maximum and minimum asphalt pavement temperatures on Abuja-Kaduna railway line. Meteorological data of daily air temperatures for 31 years (1990-2021) were obtained at Abuja and Zaria NIMET weather stations for this research. In this study, the maximum air temperature, being the average hottest 7-day temperature for each year, and the minimum air temperature, being the coldest one-day temperature for each year were determined, and the values of maximum air temperature being the highest value in 31 years and minimum air temperature being the coldest day in 31 years, together with the days the hottest and coldest temperatures were recorded in 31 years were substituted in the Diefenderfer regression equation at three different depths. The predicted maximum and minimum asphalt pavement temperatures were taken at mid-depths. These represent temperatures the asphaltic sub-ballast is expected to withstand in the railway substructure environment. This study found that the maximum and minimum asphalt pavement temperatures on Abuja to Kaduna railway line were 24.53 0C and 15.44 0C respectively.

 

KEYWORDS: Meteorological data, Diefenderfer Regression Models, Asphalt Pavement Temperatures, Abuja to Kaduna Railway Line, Nigeria