Assessing the effect of short and long-term aging on moisture damage of hot mix asphalt using two different methods

ABSTRACT

The effects of short-term aging (STA) and long-term aging (LTA) on moisture damage mechanisms were investigated using mechanical and thermodynamic methods. PG58-22 and PG64-16 asphalt binders modified with Dodecylamine (DA) and Wetfix (WT) additives and limestone and granite aggregates were used. The moisture sensitivity was assessed using the indirect tensile strength (ITS) test via the modified Lottman test and the surface free energy (SFE) method. As asphalt binder becomes harder due to aging, ITS values increase in dry conditions. However, ITS values decrease due to the texture and mineralogical properties of aggregates, the reduction of mastic cohesion and asphalt binder-aggregate adhesion because of water infiltration and weakening of the mixture in wet conditions. The tensile strength ratio (TSR) test revealed that TSR values decrease due to aging. The cohesion free energy of the PG64-16 asphalt binder increased by 8.9% in the STA state and by 29.8% in the LTA state compared to the unaged state. This rise in PG58-22 was about the same as that in PG64-16. Asphalt binder aging in all the samples reduced the adhesion energy. These variations indicated that aging reduces the probability of cohesion failure and increases the probability of adhesion failure.

KEYWORDS:

• Asphalt mixture
• moisture damage
• short- and long-term aging
• surface free energy
• modified Lottman test

Disclosure statement

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