Exploring potential of Marshall-RT as simple performance test to evaluate rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures

ABSTRACT

This study explored a new simple monotonic Marshall rutting test (Marshall-RT) to evaluate the rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures. The Marshall-RT test setup combines the Marshall fixture (at the bottom) and the IDT fixture (at the top). The rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures was evaluated using peak load (P_max) and work done for the deformation damage obtained from the load-displacement curve. Nine plant-produced asphalt mixtures having different types of binders (unmodified, crumb rubber modified binder (CRMB)), and polymer modified binder (PMB)) and gradations having different nominal maximum aggregate sizes (NMAS) were evaluated. The Marshall-RT test parameters (i.e. P_max and $W_{P_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}}$) have shown a strong correlation with fundamental (i.e. Flow Number (FN)), simulative (i.e. Hamburg wheel tracking test (HWTT)), and simple monotonic (i.e. Ideal rutting test (IDEAL-RT)) rutting tests. Moreover, the Marshall-RT test has shown good repeatability, the highest differentiation potential, and consistent ranking with other rutting tests. Furthermore, for high traffic levels (i.e. 100 MSA (Million Standard Axle)), at 50°C preliminary minimum threshold criteria were proposed for Marshall-RT (P_max and $W_{P_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}}$), and IDEAL-RT (RT_Index) as 5 kN, 14 kN-mm, and 90, respectively, to avoid premature rutting failure. Thus, the newly developed monotonic Marshall-RT test can also be used as a surrogate simple performance test to estimate the rutting potential of asphalt mixtures during the mix design and plant production phases as quality control (QC)/quality assurance (QA).

KEYWORDS:

• Rutting resistance
• monotonic simple tests
• Marshall-RT
• Ideal-RT
• flow number
• Hamburg wheel tracking test
• quality control/quality assurance

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and express their gratitude to VR Techniche, Vishwa Samudra Engineering, Oriental Structural Engineers, Prakash Asphalting’s & Toll Highways (India) Ltd., and CDS Infra Projects Ltd. for the supply of materials used in the current study. Also, thanks to the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay, for providing the infrastructure and platform for this research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.