Alex Apeagyei

Dr Alex Apeagyei

Associate Professor

Highways & Transportation Engineering

Department of Engineering & Construction , School Of Architecture, Computing And 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.

Qualifications

  • PhD Civil Engineering, MSc Civil Engineering, BSc (Civil Engineering)

Areas Of Interest

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.

Alex Apeagyei

OVERVIEW

Dr Alex Apeagyei is an Associate Professor of Engineering (specialization- Highways & Transportation) with responsibility for the leadership, development and effective delivery of the BSc Civil Engineering course.

Alex holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he conducted seminal work characterizing climatic effects on asphalt mixtures  and taught classes on Airport Facilities Design. His previous industrial and academic roles in the UK and USA include Research Fellow at University of Nottingham, Research Scientist at Virginia Transportation Research Council, and Post-doc Research Associate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

At the University of Nottingham, he worked as the technical lead for the EPSRC-sponsored project "Micro-Mechanical Interpretation of Moisture Induced Damage in Asphalt", "Grant No. EP/I03646X/1." The project investigated, for the first time, the micro-mechanical processes that result in moisture-induced damage in asphalt pavements by characterizing both cohesive and adhesive types of damage as a function of the physio-chemical characteristics of the components of the asphalt mix.

The project involved the use of X-Ray CT to characterise the internal microstructure of the asphalt that could be processed and converted into accurate 3D finite element meshes for numerical simulation of moisture diffusion and damage in asphalt.

After joining the UK academic system in 2016, Alex became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2018 in recognition of his innovative, practical and career-focused approach to teaching of highways and transportation-related courses. A Chartered Engineer (UK) and registered professional engineer (USA), Alex is also a Fellow of the Institute of Highway Engineers.

He serves on the Editorial Boards of the Transportation Research Record and the Proceedings of the ICE - Transport .  He has received numerous prestigious awards for his work on sustainable highway infrastructure including the VDOT Commissioner's Award for Outstanding Achievement (2012),  Jack H. Dillard Award for Best Research Paper (2010) and  Golden Leaf Award for Most Outstanding Technical Paper, Pavement Recycling and Reclaiming Center, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 2011. 

Alex's scholarly record includes more than 70 authored/co-authored peer-reviewed publications. His research has resulted in the development of new tests, testing specifications, advanced material characterization and modeling of pavement systems, bonded overlay, and analysis of acoustic emissions of bituminous materials. Alex is a passionate advocate for children's education and has served as Governor of Winsor Primary School in East London.

Qualifications

  • PhD Civil Engineering
  • MSc Civil Engineering
  • BSc (Civil Engineering)

Certifications and Accreditations

  • Fellow, Institute of Highway Engineers, No. 44009872, (2016)
  • Fellow, Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK (2018)
  • Professional Engineer , Michigan, USA, No.: 6201057197 (2010)
  • Professional Engineer, Virginia, USA, No.: 0402047555 (2010)
  • Member, ASTM International, USA, No.: 1220270 (2009)
  • Member, RILEM, France, No.: 9479 (2014)
  • Member of American Society for Civil Engineers (2001)

CURRENT RESEARCH

Practice Ready Papers
http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=PRP2017

Practice-ready papers are defined as those in which the research results presented and
discussed make a contribution to the solution of current or future problems or issues for
practitioners. Information presented in these papers is ready for immediate implementation or
requires minimal additional research or implementation effort.
 

MOST RECENT RESEARCH

  • Gabriele Tebaldi, Eshan Dave, Augusto Cannone Falchetto, Martin Hugener, Daniel Perraton, Andrea Grilli, Davide Lo Presti, Marco Pasetto, Andreas Loizos, Kim Jenkins, Alex Apeagyei, James Grenfell, Maurizio Bocci (2019). Recommendation of RILEM TC237-SIB on fragmentation test for recycled asphalt, Materials and Structures, 52(4), https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-019-1365-6 
  • Tebaldi G., Apeagyei A., Jelagin D., Falchetto A.C. (2018) Advanced Measurement Systems For Crack Characterization. In: Buttlar W., Chabot A., Dave E., Petit C., Tebaldi G. (eds) Mechanisms of Cracking and Debonding in Asphalt and Composite Pavements. RILEM State-of-the-Art Reports, vol 28. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76849-6_4
  • Jizhe Zhang, Gordon D. Airey, James Grenfell & Alex K. Apeagyei (2018) Moisture sensitivity examination of asphalt mixtures using thermodynamic, direct adhesion peel and compacted mixture mechanical tests, Road Materials and Pavement Design, 19:1, 120-138, https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2016.1249510
     

PUBLICATIONS

Books and Book Chapters, Edited or Co-Edited

  • Tebaldi G., Apeagyei A., Jelagin D., Falchetto A.C. (2018) Advanced Measurement Systems For Crack Characterization. In: Buttlar W., Chabot A., Dave E., Petit C., Tebaldi G. (eds) Mechanisms of Cracking and Debonding in Asphalt and Composite Pavements. RILEM State-of-the-Art Reports, vol 28. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76849-6_4
  • G. Tebaldi, E.V. Dave, M. Hugener, A.C. Falchetto, D. Perraton, A. Grilli, D. Lo Presti, M. Pasetto, A. Loizos, K. Jenkins, A. Apeagyei, J. Grenfall and M. Bocci, "Cold Recycling of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavements," Chapter 6, Testing and Characterization of Sustainable Innovative Bituminous Materials and Systems, RILEM State-of-the-Art Report 24, Springer Nature, Switzerland, ISBN: 978-3-319-71023-5, ISSN: 2213-2031, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71023-5_6
  • D. Perraton, G. Tebaldi, E. Dave, F. Bilodeau, G. Giacomello, A. Grilli, A. Graziani, M. Bocci, J. Grenfell, P. Muraya, M. Pasetto, K. Kuna, A. Apeagyei, D. Lo Presti, G. Airey, K. Jenkins, E. Hajj, M. Hugener, P. Marsac, "Tests Campaign Analysis to Evaluate the Capability of Fragmentation Test to Characterize Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Material," 8th RILEM International Symposium on Testing and Characterization of Sustainable and Innovative Bituminous Materials, Volume 11 RILEM Bookseries, pp 965-976, Springer, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7342-3_77 (3W)
  • Alex K. Apeagyei, James R.A. Grenfell and Gordon D. Airey (2016), "Moisture-Induced Debonding Mechanisms in Asphalt Mixture," A. Chabot et al. (eds.), 8th RILEM International Conference on Mechanisms of Cracking and Debonding in Pavements, RILEM Bookseries 13, DOI 10.1007/978-94-204-0867-6_83

Referred articles in Journals

  • Apeagyei, A.K., Dave, E.D., and W.G. Buttlar, "Effect of Cooling Rate on Thermal Cracking of Asphalt Concrete Pavements," Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, Vol. 77, 2008.
  • Apeagyei, A.K., Buttlar, W.G., and B.J. Dempsey, "Investigation of Cracking Behavior of Antioxidant-Modified Asphalt Mixtures," Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, Vol. 77, 2008.
  • Apeagyei, A., Buttlar, W. G., and H. Reis, "Assessment of low-temperature embrittlement of asphalt binders using an acoustic emission approach," Insight, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 129-136, March, 2009.
     

Referred articles in Conference Proceedings

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • D. Perraton, G. Tebaldi, E. Dave, F. Bilodeau, G. Giacomello, A. Grilli, A. Graziani, M. Bocci, J. Grenfell, P. Muraya, M. Pasetto, K. Kuna, A. Apeagyei, D. Lo Presti, G. Airey, K. Jenkins, E. Hajj, M. Hugener, P. Marsac, "Tests Campaign Analysis to Evaluate the Capability of Fragmentation Test to Characterize Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Material," 8th RILEM International Symposium on Testing and Characterization of Sustainable and Innovative Bituminous Materials, Volume 11 RILEM Bookseries, pp 965-976, Springer, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7342-3_77 (3W)
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.  
  • 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. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Diefenderfer BK, Bowers BF, Apeagyei AK (2015). "Initial Performance of Virginia's Interstate 81 In-place Pavement Recycling Project."  Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting, January 11-15, 2015, Washington, DC. 
  • 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. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. 
  • 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.).
  • 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.
  • 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. 
  • Apeagyei AK, Buttlar WG and Dempsey BJ (2006). "Moisture damage evaluation of asphalt mixtures using AASHTO T283 and DC(T) Fracture Test," Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Asphalt Pavements, International Society of Asphalt Pavement, Quebec City, Canada, August 12-17.
  • Apeagyei, A., Buttlar, W.G., and B.J. Dempsey, "Moisture Damage Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures using AASHTO T283 and DC(T) Fracture Test," 10th International Conference on Asphalt Pavements. August 12-17, Québec, Canada, Vol. 1, pp. 740-751, 2006.
  • Apeagyei, A., Struble, L. J., and W.G. Buttlar, "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, 2009.
  • Apeagyei, A., W.G. Buttlar, "Mode II Cracking in Asphalt Concrete," 7th International RILEM Symposium on Advanced Testing and Characterization of Bituminous Materials, Rhodes, Greece, 2009.
  • Apeagyei, A.A., Reis, H., and W.G. Buttlar, "Estimation of low-temperature cracking threshold for asphalt binders using an acoustic emission approach," SPIE Smart Structures and Materials &
  • Nondestructive Evaluation and Structural Health Monitoring Conference, San Diego, CA, March, 2009.
  • Behnia, B., Buttlar, W.G., Reis, H.M., and A. Apeagyei, "Determining the Embrittlement Temperature of Asphalt Binders using an Acoustic Emission Approach, "Proceedings of the ASCE NDE/NDT for Highway Bridges: Structural Materials Technology (SMT)," New York, August, 2010.

Other Publication and Products

United States Patent: #US 9,605,104 B2 Apeagyei et al., "Antioxidant Treatment of Asphalt Binders," Inventors: Alex K. Apeagyei, William G. Buttlar, Barry J. Dempsey Date of Patent: March 28, 2017

Awards

Jack H. Dillard Award for Best Research Paper, Virginia Transportation Research Council, 2010   
Golden Leaf Award for Most Outstanding Technical Paper, Pavement Recycling and Reclaiming Center, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 2011 

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

  • National Co-operative Research Programme (NCHRP 14-43) - Expert Panel Member (2019)
  • Expert Reviewer - Discovery Program, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 2020
  • Institute of Highway Engineers - Academic Standards Panel Member (2020)
  • Transportation Research Board Standing Committees - Member (various 2010-Date) (RILEM Technical Committees (various 2012-2020)
  • Nottingham Asphalt Research Consortium - Steering Committee Member (2018-Date)
  • NCHRP IDEA Project 144 - Expert Review Panel Member (2011)
  • ASTM Committee D04 on Road and Paving Materials - Member (2010-2014) 
  • Transportation Research Record - Handling Editor - 2019-Date
  • Millennium Challenge Account - Nepal - Soil Stabilization and FDR Expert (2019-2021)
     

MODULES

  • EG6104 Individual Research Project
  • EG6106 Traffic and Highways
  • EG6110 Dissertation
  • EG6118 Traffic and Highways
  • EG7012 Highway Engineering
  • EG7013 Transportation Engineering
  • EG7031 Intelligent Transport Systems
  • EG7032 Highway & Railway Engineering
  • EG7011 MSc dissertation
  • EG7030 MSc dissertation