Sang-Soo Kim

US Patent:

7252012, Aug 7, 2007

Filed:

Aug 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/524907

Inventors:

Sang-Soo Kim - Athens OH, US

Assignee:

Ohio University - Athens OH

International Classification:

G01N 3/00

US Classification:

73803

Abstract:

A device and method for directly measuring the critical temperatures for thermal cracking of asphalt binders. The exemplary comprises a metal ring, a strain gauge attached to the inner surface of the ring, an environmental chamber, one or more signal amplifiers, and a data acquisition system such as a laptop computer running suitable data analysis software. A thermocouple may also be attached to the inside of the tube to closely monitor the ring temperature. A mold that is also a component of the present invention is used to create a circular asphalt binder test specimen. When properly cast the specimen encircles the metal ring. The specimen and ring are placed within the environmental chamber for analysis. Development of thermal stress (induced by temperature reduction within the environmental chamber) within the asphalt binder test specimen is monitored by the strain gauge and the cracking temperature is directly determinable from the strain reading.

US Patent:

7331242, Feb 19, 2008

Filed:

Mar 24, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/088438

Inventors:

Sang-Soo Kim - Athens OH, US

Assignee:

Ohio University - Athens OH

International Classification:

G01L 1/00

US Classification:

73766, 73803

Abstract:

A system for measuring the critical temperatures for thermal cracking of asphalt binders. The exemplary embodiment comprises a metal ring, at least one strain gauge attached to the inner surface of the ring, an environmental chamber, and a data acquisition system. A thermocouple may also be attached to the inside of the ring to monitor the ring temperature. A mold is provided for creating a circular asphalt binder test specimen. When properly cast, the specimen encircles the metal ring. The specimen and ring are placed within the environmental chamber for analysis as the temperature within the chamber is lowered. Thermal stress induced by temperature reduction within the asphalt binder test specimen is monitored by the strain gauge(s) and the cracking temperature is directly determined from the strain reading.

US Patent:

8364425, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Sep 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/226137

Inventors:

Sang-Soo Kim - Athens OH, US

Assignee:

Ohio University - Athens OH

International Classification:

G01L 1/00

US Classification:

702 41

Abstract:

A method for determining properties of an asphalt material include measuring respective current deformations of a plurality of samples of the asphalt material, repeating the measuring step over a plurality of temperatures that change at a predetermined rate, calculating a plurality of measured total strain values as a function of the deformations and the temperatures, calculating respective creep strains, at different ones of the plurality of temperatures, based on the total strains as a function of applied stresses, calculating respective creep stiffnesses as a function of the temperatures, determining a combined creep curve based on the respective creep stiffnesses, deriving a theoretical creep curve, and fitting the theoretical creep curve with the combined creep curve to determine a master creep curve function and a time-temperature shift function.

US Patent:

20080234951, Sep 25, 2008

Filed:

Jul 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/994569

Inventors:

Sang-Soo Kim - Athens OH, US

Assignee:

OHIO UNIVERSITY - Athens OH

International Classification:

G01N 11/00
G01F 1/00
G01N 25/16

US Classification:

702 52, 702 47, 374 55, 374E05001

Abstract:

Properties of asphalt are determined by determining an expansion of a plurality of samples of the asphalt as a function of current dimensions of the respective samples, determining a creep of the samples as a function of the current dimensions of the respective samples, repeating the determining steps over a plurality of temperatures, and determining a master creep modulus and a temperature coefficient of the asphalt as a function of the plurality of expansions and the plurality of creeps.