SUNY Canton's Asphalt Expert Wins Best Paper Award

SUNY Canton’s resident asphalt expert is hitting the pavement running by researching ways to combat ruts and roadway indentations.

Aksel Seitllari, Ph.D., P.E., an assistant professor who teaches in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology program, is creating solutions to mitigate surface depressions caused by traffic. The Virginia Transportation Research Council recently recognized Seitllari as part of a team of authors with the Jack H. Dillard Best Paper Award for "Simple and Practical Tests for Rutting Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures in the Balanced Mix Design Process."

"The Virginia Department of Transportation currently uses the asphalt pavement analyzer to test asphalt mixtures for rutting potential in its balanced mix design method," Seitllari said. "However, the cost and availability of the equipment, along with testing speed, pose challenges in routine use, particularly during asphalt mixture production."

Seitllari explained ruts in the road build up bit by bit over time. When large vehicles drive over the road, they create minor but lasting dents and compressions. As the pavement ages, these dents can turn into raised areas on either side of the rut.

"We want to conduct tests focusing on consistent loading to help create a balanced mix design formula to prevent road surface damage. We suggest implementing indirect tensile tests at high temperatures with a specific minimum strength requirement. We'll also consider analyzing the impact of traffic conditions for the Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT)."

The SUNY Canton faculty member joined colleagues Ilker Boz, Ph.D., Jhony Habbouche, Ph.D., P.E., Stacey D. Diefenderfer, Ph.D., P.E., Griffin P. Coffey, and Osman E. Ozbulut, Ph.D., to author the study. The paper is one of several forms of outreach he's using to promote his unique research. Seitllari also recently presented at a New York State DOT conference in Saratoga, where he connected with industry professionals and discussed testing techniques. The new method is currently with the SUNY Research Foundation and is under review for a provisional patent.

In addition to teaching a full course load in the Canino School of Engineering Technology, Seitllari has built an entire lab to test asphalt materials on campus, which includes an asphalt mixture performance tester and other related equipment. Students and interns can work directly with their faculty member, which helps create even more employment opportunities after graduation. Several graduates have landed positions with New York State DOT based on their experiences studying asphalt.

"When students take these classes, they study real-world projects," he said. "They have a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in our asphalt lab."

Eventually, Seitllari plans to open the lab to test asphalt for contractors and state agencies. His first client is Virginia's DOT. "We are starting on a magnificent journey," he said. "We are proud of our testing center and what it can provide to New York and beyond."