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Influence of water and temperature on mechanical properties of selected asphalt pavements

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Abstract

One of the main causes of distress in asphalt pavements is water damage. The purpose of this paper is to compare different test methods to evaluate moisture susceptibility. This is of special importance because of the insufficient effectiveness of the test procedures currently used. In this research, experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of water and temperature on mechanical properties of mixtures with different, air void content. The evaluation of such properties concentrates on the following three approaches: innovative (Coaxial Shear Test), traditional, (Indirect Tensile Test) and empirical (Cantabro Test). Specimens were prepared by means of Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) and divided in two different subsets for controlled dry and wet conditioned testing. Test results indicated that the Indirect Tensile Test (IDT) is not able to discriminate between wet and dry condition as the Coaxial Shear Test (CAST) does. The CAST method reproduces closest the real field conditions and indicates clearly the risk of water damage for open graded mixtures (high air void content). Dense graded mixtures (low air void content) showed less influence probably due to the reduced amount of penetrating water. Cantabro Tests (CAT) provided also significant results in good correlation with air void content and material properties of asphalt mixes.

Résumé

Les dégâts causés par l'eau sont une des causes les plus importantes de la dégradation des chaussées. Cet article présente une comparaison de différentes méthodes d'essai utilisées pour évaluer la susceptibilité à l'eau des enrobés bitumineux. Les effects de l'eau et de la température sur les propriétés mécaniques d'enrobés présentant des teneurs en vides différentes ont été étudiés. L'évaluation de ces propriétés respose sur les trois approches suïvantes: innovatrice (essai de cisaillement coaxial), traditionnelle (essai de traction indirecte) et empirique (essai Cantabro). Les éprouvettes ont été confectionnées à l'aide d'un compacteur giratoire superpave et réparties en deux sous-ensembles pour les essais en conditions sèches et en conditions humides. L'évaluation des résultats montre que l'essai de traction indirecte ne permet pas de différenciation entre les résultats obtenus à l'état sec et l'état humide alors que l'essai de cisaillement coaxial permet de mettre clairement en évidence les dommages causés par l'eau sur les enrobés à haute teneur en vides. Les enrobés à teneur en vides peu élevée présentaient des dommages moins importants ce qui est probablement dû au fait que la quantité d'eau pouvant pénétrer dans les éprouvettes est faible. L'essai de cisaillement coaxial reproduit ainsi très fidèlement les conditions in situ. L'essai Cantabro fournit lui aussi des résultats significatifs qui sont en étroite corrélation avec la teneur en vide et les propriétés mécaniques des enrobés.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratories for Road Engineering/Sealing Components, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    R. Gubler & M. N. Partl

  2. Instituto di Idraulica e Infrastrutture Viarie, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

    F. Canestrari & A. Grilli

Authors
  1. R. Gubler
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  2. M. N. Partl
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  3. F. Canestrari
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  4. A. Grilli
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Additional information

Editorial note Empa is a RILEM Titular Member. Dr. Manfred N. Partl is a RILEM Senior Member and a member of the RILEM Technical Activities Committee (TAC). He is the Chairman of RILEMTC ATB ‘Advanced testing and characterization of bituminous materials’ and also participates in RILEM TCs 197-NCM ‘Nanotechnology in construction materials’ and CAP ‘Cracking in Asphalt Pavements’. Prof. Francesco Canestrari is a RILEM Senior Member and participates in the above-mentioned RILEM TCs ATB and CAP, Mr. Remy Gubler also participates in RILEM TC ATB.

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Gubler, R., Partl, M.N., Canestrari, F. et al. Influence of water and temperature on mechanical properties of selected asphalt pavements. Mat. Struct. 38, 523–532 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02479543

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02479543

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