ESTIMATION OF PAVEMENT TEMPERATURE CLIMATOLOGICAL ZONES

Abstract

Temperature is a critical factor influencing flexible pavement design and performance. This study investigates asphalt pavement temperatures across Nigeria's diverse climatological zones, highlighting the impact on pavement performance and durability. Previous studies have not comprehensively addressed Nigeria's diverse climatic conditions. This research fills the gap by classifying Nigeria into hot dry, temperate dry, hot humid, and warm humid zones, providing a detailed approach to bitumen grade selection based on accurate pavement temperature analysis. The methodology involves obtaining air temperature data and computing pavement temperatures using a validated model. Results indicate that Zone 1 (Sokoto, Borno, Adamawa) requires a 40/50 penetration grade bitumen due to a maximum pavement temperature of 44°C, while Zones 2, 3, and 4 are suited for 60/70 penetration bitumen. Emphasizing pavement temperatures over air temperatures enhances road resilience and longevity. This study provides a foundation for an advanced bitumen grading system, offering criteria for selecting bitumen for various Nigerian climatic zones.