Dr. Jo Sias Daniel

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering

Phone: (603) 862-3277
Email: jo.daniel@unh.edu

University of New Hampshire
Kingsbury Hall Room W171
33 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824

Research Overview

Dr. Daniel has research interests in the area of asphalt concrete. Her research is currently focused on the impact of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) on the properties and performance of asphalt concrete and the verification and implementation of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG).

Current Projects

Northeast High RAP Pooled Fund Study
Funded by various state DOTs and FHWA
Research Partners: NC State Univ, Rutgers Univ, UMass Dartmouth
The objectives of this research project are to:

evaluate the performance in terms of low temperature cracking, fatigue cracking, and moisture sensitivity of plant produced RAP mixtures in the laboratory and field
establish guidelines on when it is necessary to bump binder grades with RAP mixtures
provide further understanding of the blending that occurs between RAP and virgin binder in plant-produced mixtures
refine fatigue failure criteria for RAP mixtures that can be used in the Simplified Viscoelastic Continuum Damage (S-VECD) model

Performance of High RAP Pavement Sections in NH
Funded by NHDOT
The objectives of this project are:

Conduct forensic analysis on the existing high RAP section and a comparable virgin section to evaluate the material properties and characteristics of the existing mixture with respect to the observed performance.
Evaluate the performance in terms of low temperature cracking, fatigue cracking, and moisture sensitivity of the new test section mixtures in the laboratory and field
Provide guidance on the use of high RAP mixtures to the NHDOT based on the results of the forensic and new material analysis.

Pavement Instrumentation for Local Calibration of the Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG)
Funded by NHDOT
The objective for this project is to collect local material, traffic, climate, and construction practice data to begin developing calibration factors for use in MEPDG based pavement design. An instrumented pavement site is under construction on the Spaulding Turnpike for this project.

Aging of RAP Mixtures
Funded by the Recycled Materials Resource Center
Asphalt mixtures age while in place over their service lives. The aging process stiffens the mixture and causes it to become more brittle and susceptible to fatigue and low temperature cracking. The addition of recycled materials (RAP and RAS) to asphalt mixtures incorporates some already aged materials into the mixtures at the beginning of their service life. The objective of this project is to evaluate how the properties of asphalt mixtures containing RAP and RAS change with aging as compared to a virgin mixture.

Publications

Journal Papers

Daniel, J.S., G. R. Chehab, and D. Ayyala “Sensitivity of RAP Binder Grade on Performance Predictions in the MEPDG”, Journal of the Association of Asphalt Pavement Technologists, Vol. 78, 2009, pp. 352-376.
Bhattacharjee, S., A. Krishna Swamy, and J.S. Daniel “Application of the Elastic-Viscoelastic Correspondence Principle to Determine the Fatigue Endurance Limit of Hot Mix Asphalt” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2126, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2009, pp. 12-18.
Bhattacharjee S., Mallick R. B. and Daniel J. S. “Small Scale Accelerated Load Testing in the Laboratory for Fatigue Characterization of Hot Mix Asphalt”. ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication “Pavements and Materials: Characterization, Modeling and Simulation”, 2008.
Chehab, G., and J.S. Daniel “Evaluating RAP Mixtures using the Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide Level 3 Analysis”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1962, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2006, pp. 90-100.
Daniel, J.S. and W. Real “Field Trial of an Infrared Joint Heater to Improve Longitudinal Joint Performance in New Hampshire”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1946, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2006, pp. 157-162.
Daniel, J.S. “Use of an Infrared Joint Heater to Improve Longitudinal Joint Performance in HMA Pavements”, ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, Vol. 20, No. 2, May 2006, pp. 167-175.
Mallick, R.B., and J.S. Daniel “Development and Evaluation of a Field Permeameter as a Longitudinal Joint Quality Indicator”, International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 1, March 2006. pp. 11-21.
Daniel, J.S., and A. Lachance, “Mechanistic and Volumetric Properties of Asphalt Mixtures with RAP”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No.1929, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2005, pp. 28-36.

Professional Activities

Transportation Research Board
- Chair of Committee AFK50
- Member of Committee AFK30
Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists
Models Expert Task Group
RAP Expert Task Group
American Society of Civil Engineers
International Society for Asphalt Pavements
National Society of Professional Engineers
New England Transportation Technician Certification Program
Northeast Asphalt User/Producer Group

Professional Honors

UNH Outstanding Assistant Professor Award, 2005
ASCE Oustanding Newsletter Award for Small Sections, 2005
UNH Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Civil Engineering Faculty Award 2002-3
Runner –up for AAPT Walter J. Emmons Best Paper Award 2003

Courses Taught

CiE 525 Statics
CiE 526 Mechanics of Materials
CiE 665 Soil Mechanics
CiE 723/823 Bituminous Materials and Mixtures
CiE 754 Transportation Engineering and Planning
CiE 796/896 Pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation

Bio

Ph.D., Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University, May 2001
M.S., Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University, August 1996
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of New Hampshire, May 1994