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Dr Alex Apeagyei

Senior Lecturer 

Architecture, Computing & Engineering

Dr Alex Apeagyei has several years of combined industrial, academic and research experience in Highway and Transportation Engineering, across three continents - Africa, North America and Europe. Prior to joining UEL as a Senior Lecturer, he served as Course Director for the BSc Civil Engineering programme at Kingston University. He previously worked as a Research Fellow at the Nottingham Transportation Engineering Centre, University of Nottingham. He also worked as Research Scientist at the Virginia Transportation Research Council and as a Research Associate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. His primary research goals are directed at applying experimental and computational techniques to better understand the influence that climatic factors, especially those related to moisture and temperature, have on the sustainability and durability of highway pavement materials. In the past, his research had focused on advanced materials characterization of road construction materials (including soils, aggregates, and portland cement concrete), low temperature cracking of asphalt mixtures, rutting in asphalt mixtures, asphalt pavement recycling, pavement rehabilitation and non-destructive testing. With excessive precipitation predicted to be one of the main impacts of climate change in UK, his future research plans are aimed at forging interdisciplinary collaborations with colleagues in Chemistry, Geology and Environment to solve one of the most intractable problems in highway engineering – moisture damage in asphalt. His ultimate aim is to better understand the effects of environmental change on asphalt pavement sustainability and the development of adaptation systems to address the issue. Alex is a registered Professional Engineer in the USA and an active member various international scientific groups including Institute of Highway Engineers, RILEM, ASTM International, American Society of Civil Engineers, Association of Asphalt Paving Technologist, European Asphalt Technology Association and Transportation Research Board. Alex has published some of his work in several peer-reviewed journals and presented others at prestigious national and international conferences and meetings in Europe and North America. He holds a patent on techniques for controlling age-hardening in asphalt mixtures (US Patent # 9,605,104). Alex is the author of more than 60 peer-reviewed publications.




    Overview



    Collaborators

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    Research

    1. Zhang J, Airey GD, Grenfell JRA, Apeagyei AK (2017). “Moisture damage evaluation of aggregate– bitumen bonds with the respect of moisture absorption, tensile strength and failure surface.” Road Materials and Pavement Design, 18(4). 833- 848. 
    2. Zhang J, Airey GD, Grenfell JRA, Apeagyei AK (2016). “Moisture sensitivity examination of asphalt mixtures using thermodynamic, direct adhesion peel and compacted mixture.” Road Materials and Pavement Design, 18(4). 833- 848. doi: 10.1080/14680629.2016.1249510 
    3. Airey GD, Grenfell JRA, Apeagyei AK et al. (2016). “Time dependent viscoelastic rheological response of pure, modified and synthetic bituminous binders.” Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials, 20(3). 455-480. 
    4. Zhang J, Airey GD, Grenfell JRA, Apeagyei AK et al. (2016). “Development of a composite substrate peel test to assess moisture sensitivity of aggregate-bitumen bond.” International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 68, 133-141. 
    5. Jiang W, Sha A, Xiao J, Wang Z, Apeagyei AK (2016). “Experimental study on materials composition design and mixture performance of water-retentive asphalt concrete.” Construction and Building Materials, 111, 128-138.
    6. Zhang J, Apeagyei AK, Airey GD, and Grenfell JRA (2015). “Influence of aggregate mineralogical composition on water resistance of aggregate–bitumen adhesion.” International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives. 62, 45-54.
    7. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA, and Airey GD (2015). “Application of Fickian and non-Fickian diffusion models to study moisture diffusion in asphalt mastics.” Materials and Structures, 48:5, 1461-1474.
    8. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA, and Airey GD (2015). “Influence of aggregate absorption and diffusion properties on moisture damage in asphalt mixtures.” Road Materials and Pavement Design. 16(sup1), 404-422.
    9. Grenfell JRA, Apeagyei AK and Airey GD (2015). “Moisture damage assessment using surface energy, bitumen stripping and the SATS moisture conditioning procedure.” International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 16:5, 411-431. 
    10. Diefenderfer BK, Bowers BF, Apeagyei AK (2015). “Initial Performance of Virginia’s Interstate 81 Inplace Pavement Recycling Project.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No., Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C. Awaiting Publication. 
    11. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA, and Airey GD (2014). “Observation of reversible moisture damage in asphalt mixtures.” Construction and Building Materials, 60, 73-80.
    12. Grenfell JRA, Ahmad N, Liu Y, Apeagyei AK, Large D and Airey GD (2014). “Assessing asphalt mixture moisture susceptibility through intrinsic adhesion, bitumen stripping and mechanical damage.” Road Materials and Pavement Design, 15:1, 131-152. 
    13. Liu Y, Apeagyei AK, Ahmad N, Grenfell JRA and Airey GD (2014). “Examination of moisture sensitivity of aggregate–bitumen bonding strength using loose asphalt mixture and physico-chemical surface energy property tests.” International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 15 (7). pp. 657-670.
    14. Apeagyei AK (2014). “Flow number predictive models from volumetric and binder properties.” Construction and Building Materials, 64, 240-245.
    15. Grenfell JRA, Ahmad N, Liu Y, Apeagyei AK, Airey GD, and Large D (2014) “Application of surface free energy techniques to evaluate bitumen-aggregate bonding strength and bituminous mixture moisture sensitivity.” Proceedings of the ICE - Construction Materials, 167(4), 214-226.
    16. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA and Airey GD (2013). “Evaluation of moisture sorption and diffusion characteristics of asphalt mastics using manual and automated gravimetric sorption techniques.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 26(8), 04014045.
    17. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA, and Airey GD (2014). “Moisture-induced strength degradation of aggregate-asphalt mastic bonds.” Road Materials and Pavement Design, 15(s1), 239-262.
    18. Katicha SW, Apeagyei AK, Flintsch GW and Loulizi A. (2014). “Universal linear viscoelastic approximation property of fractional viscoelastic models with application to asphalt concrete.” Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials, 18(3), 555-571.
    19. Apeagyei AK (2013). “Evaluating foamed asphalt stability using acoustic emission techniques.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 25(9), 1291-1298.
    20. Apeagyei AK, Clark TM, Rorrer TM (2013). “Stiffness of High-RAP Asphalt Mixtures: Virginia’s Experience.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 25(6), 747–754.
    21. Apeagyei, AK. and Diefenderfer, B. (2013). ”Evaluation of cold in-place and cold central-plant recycling methods using laboratory testing of field-cored specimens.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 25(11), 1712–1720.
    22. Diefenderfer BK, Apeagyei AK, Gallo AA, Dougald LE, and Weaver CB (2012). “In-place Pavement Recycling on I-81 in Virginia.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2306, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C. pp. 21– 27. 
    23. Apeagyei AK and Diefenderfer SD (2012). “Correlation of flow number with stiffness obtained from dynamic shear rheometer testing of extracted binder from asphalt concrete containing recycled asphalt pavement.” Journal of Testing and Evaluation (JTE), 40(4), 10.
    24. Apeagyei AK, Diefenderfer BK and Diefenderfer SD (2012). “Development of dynamic modulus master curves for hot mix asphalt with abbreviated testing temperatures.” International Journal of Pavement Engineering. 13(2), pp. 98-109.
    25. Apeagyei AK, Diefenderfer BK and Diefenderfer SD (2011). “Rutting resistance of asphalt concrete containing recycled asphalt pavement (RAP).” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2208, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., pp. 9–16.
    26. Diefenderfer BK and Apeagyei AK (2011). “Time-Dependent Structural Response of Full-Depth Reclamation.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2253, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., pp. 3–9. 
    27. Apeagyei AK (2011). “Rutting as a function of dynamic modulus and gradation.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 23(9), 1302-1310.
    28. Apeagyei AK (2011). “Correlating rutting with dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete.” Proceedings of the ICE – Transport, 164(4), 241 –249.
    29. Apeagyei AK (2011). “Laboratory evaluation of antioxidants for asphalt binders.” Construction and Building Materials, 25(1), 47-53.
    30. Apeagyei AK, Buttlar WG and Reis H. (2009). “Assessment of low-temperature embrittlement of asphalt binders using an acoustic emission approach,” INSIGHT - The Journal of the British Institute for NonDestructive Testing, 51(3), 129-136.
    31. Apeagyei AK, Buttlar WG and Dempsey BJ (2008). "Investigation of cracking behavior of antioxidantmodified asphalt mixtures," Journal of the Association of Asphalt Pavement Technologists, Vol 77, pp. 517-548.
    32. Apeagyei AK, Dave EV and Buttlar WG (2008). "Effect of cooling rate on thermal cracking of asphalt concrete pavements," Journal of the Association of Asphalt Pavement Technologists, Vol 77, pp.709- 738.
    33. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA, and Airey GD (2015). “Influence of aggregate absorption and diffusion properties on moisture damage in asphalt mixtures.” 6th Conference of the European Asphalt Technology Association, June 15-17, 2015 – Stockholm, Sweden. 
    34. Zhang J, Apeagyei AK, Airey GD (2015). “Effect of Aggregate Composition on Moisture Sensitivity of Aggregate-Bitumen Bonds.” Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting, January 11-15, 2015, Washington, DC. 
    35. Diefenderfer BK, Bowers BF, Apeagyei AK (2015). “Initial Performance of Virginia’s Interstate 81 Inplace Pavement Recycling Project.” Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting, January 11- 15, 2015, Washington, DC. 
    36. Porot L, Besamusca J, Soenen H, Apeagyei AK, Grenfell J, Sybilski D (2015). “Bitumen / Aggregate affinity – Rilem Round Robin Test on rolling bottle Test.” 8th International RILEM SIB Symposium, October 7-9, 2015 – Ancona, Italy. 
    37. Zhang J, Apeagyei AK, Grenfell J, Airey GD (2015). “Experimental study of moisture sensitivity of aggregate-bitumen bonding strength using a new pull-off test.” 8th International RILEM SIB Symposium, October 7-9, 2015 – Ancona, Italy. 
    38. Perraton D, Tebaldi G, Dave E, Bilodeau F, Giacomello G, Grilli A, Graziani A, Bocci M, Grenfell J, Muraya P, Pasetto M, Kuna K, Apeagyei A, Lo Presti D, Airey G, Jenkins K, Hajj E, Hugener M, Marsac P (2015). “Tests Campaign Analysis to Evaluate the Capability of Fragmentation Test to Characterize Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Material.” 8th International RILEM SIB Symposium, October 7-9, 2015 – Ancona, Italy. 
    39. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA and Airey GD (2014). “Durability of asphalt mixtures exposed to long-term moisture conditioning.” Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January 12-16, 2014. 
    40. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA, and Airey GD (2014). “Effect of moisture on asphalt mastic tensile properties at ambient temperature.” Asphalt Pavements - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Asphalt Pavements, International Society of Asphalt Pavement (ISAP), Raleigh, NC, USA, June 1-5, pp. 355-369. 
    41. Apeagyei AK, Grenfell JRA and Airey GD (2014). “Moisture-induced strength degradation of aggregate-asphalt mastic bonds.” Association of Asphalt Paving Technologist Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March 16-19, 2014. 
    42. Sprinkel MM and Apeagyei AK (2014). “Evaluation of the installation and initial condition of overlays on bridge decks. Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January 12-16, 2014. 
    43. Apeagyei AK McGhee KK and Clark TM (2013). “Influence of Aggregate Packing and Asphalt Binder Characteristics on Performance of Stone Matrix Asphalt.” Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January 13-17, 2013. 
    44. Apeagyei AK and Diefenderfer KB (2012). “Rutting susceptibility of foamed asphalt stabilized base for Interstate 81 in Virginia.” Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January 22-26, 2012. 
    45. Diefenderfer KB, Apeagyei AK, Gallo AA, Dougald LE and Weaver CB (2011). “In-place pavement recycling on I-81 in Virginia.” Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January 22-26, 2012. 
    46. Apeagyei AK and Diefenderfer SD (2011). “Correlation of flow number with asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) rut depth and asphalt binder stiffness.” Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January 22-26, 2012. 
    47. Apeagyei AK and Diefenderfer BK (2011). “Rutting resistance of five asphalt concrete mixtures by the flow number test.” Proceedings 1st T&DI Congress, American Society for Civil Engineers, Chicago, IL, USA, March 13-16, pp. 406-417. 
    48. Diefenderfer BK and Apeagyei AK (2010). “Structural evaluation of full-depth reclamation trials in Virginia.” 89th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, January 10-14. 
    49. Apeagyei AK, Diefenderfer BK and Clark TM (2010). “Density Measurement Methods for Acceptance of Bituminous Mixtures: Survey of Practice.” 89th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, January 10-14. 
    50. Behnia B, Buttlar WG, Reis H and Apeagyei AK (2010). “Determining the embrittlement temperature of asphalt binders using an acoustic emission approach.” Proceedings NDE/NDT for Highways and Bridges, Structural Materials Technology (SMT), New York, NY, August 16-20, 2010. 
    51. Apeagyei AK and Hossain MS (2010). “Stiffness-based evaluation of base and subgrade quality using three portable devices.” 89th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, January 10-14. 
    52. Apeagyei AK, Struble LJ and Buttlar WG (2009). “Investigation of alkali-silica reaction in asphalt mixtures exposed to potassium acetate deicing solution,” 7th International RILEM Symposium on Advanced Testing and Characterization of Bituminous Materials, Rhodes, Greece, May 27-29. 
    53. Apeagyei AK, Buttlar WG and Reis H. (2009). "Estimation of low-temperature cracking threshold for asphalt binders using an acoustic emission approach", Proc. SPIE 7292, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2009, 72920Z (March 30, 2009); doi:10.1117/12.815356, Tomizuka Masayoshi (Ed.). 
    54. Apeagyei AK, Buttlar WG, and Reis H (2009). Monitoring low-temperature cracking stresses in asphalt mixtures using an acoustic emission approach. In: 7th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring DESTech Publications, Inc. pp. 275-282. 
    55. Apeagyei AK and Diefenderfer BK (2009). “Structural evaluation of Full-Depth Reclamation in Virginia;” Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields; Proceedings of the 8th International Conference (BCR2A'09), June 29 - July 2, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA; Edited by Erol Tutumluer and Imad L. Al-Qadi; CRC Press; pp. 879-886.

    Links

    https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=xG3eYs4AAAAJ&hl=en

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alex_Apeagyei

     

    Publications


    Funding

     

    Asphalt material characterization, Moisture damage evaluation, Sustainable construction materials, Climate resilience, Pavement durability TEACHING AREA Construction Materials, Engineering Materials, Highway Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Project Management 


    Interests

    Portfolio

    Traffic & Highway Engineering

    Teaching