Effects of short-term aging on the mechanical and structural performance of hot mix asphalt mixtures: a case study complemented by statistical analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of short-term aging on the mechanical behaviour of asphalt layers of flexible pavement structures. The effects of aging on their mechanical performance have not yet been detailed, in terms of structural analyses. Therefore, pavement structures with distinct types of asphalt layers (non-aged and aged) were evaluated. Stability, tensile strength, resilient modulus, fatigue behaviour and permanent deformation or static creep were determined. The mePADS software was used to carry out structural analyses of the pavements, based on variations in the bound layers’ mechanical properties, loading level and tire inflation pressure. Horizontal stresses and strains were determined at the bottom of the binder course. Fatigue lives were predicted and discussed based on statistical analyses. The short-term aging enhanced the mechanical parameters, but adversely affected the fatigue life for the examined strain states, which reinforces the importance of carrying out the structural analyses.

KEYWORDS:

• Asphalt mixture
• Marshall mix design method
• short-term aging
• pavement structural analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and the support provided by the Civil Engineering Department of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa.

Disclosure statement

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