Application of Fickian and non-Fickian diffusion models to study moisture diffusion in asphalt mastics

The objective of this study was to investigate certain aspects of asphalt mastic moisture diffusion characteristics in order to better understand the moisture damage phenomenon in asphalt mixtures. Moisture sorption experiments were conducted on four asphalt mastics using an environmental chamber capable of automatically controlling both relative humidity (85 %) and temperature (23 °C). The four mastics tested were identical in terms of bitumen type (40/60 pen), bitumen amount (25 % by of wt% total mix), mineral filler amount (25 % by wt%) and fine aggregate amount (50 % by wt%). The materials differed in terms of mineral filler type (granite or limestone) and fine aggregate type (granite or limestone). Preliminary data obtained during the early part of the study showed certain anomalous behavior of the materials including geometry (thickness)-dependent diffusion coefficient. It was therefore decided to investigate some aspects related to moisture diffusion in mastics by applying the Fickian and two non-Fickian (anomalous) diffusion models to the moisture sorption data. The two non-Fickian models included a two-phase Langmuir-type model and a two-parameter time-variable model. All three models predicted moisture diffusion in mastics extremely well (R 2 > 0.95). The observed variation of diffusion coefficient with thickness was attributed in part to microstructural changes (settlement of the denser fine aggregates near the bottom of the material) during the rather long-duration diffusion testing. This assertion was supported by X-ray computed tomography imaging of the mastic that showed significant accumulation of aggregate particles near the bottom of the sample with time. The results from the Langmuir-type model support a two-phase (free and bound) model for moisture absorbed by asphalt mastic and suggests about 80 % of absorbed water in the free phase remain bound within the mastic. The results also suggest that moisture diffusion in asphalt mastic may be time-dependent with diffusion decreasing by about four times during a typical diffusion test lasting up to 500 h. The study concludes that both geometry and time-dependent physical characteristics of mastic are important factors to consider with respect to moisture diffusion in asphalt mastics

Bituminous binder

One of the most important aspects of asphalt pavement deterioration is the ingress of water in pavement which leads to loss of the material characteristics, even material integrity with loss of aggregates. Thus the behaviour of asphalt mixture under moisture conditions is one of the key parameter for specifications. It’s a complex phenomenon which is influenced amongst other things by materials properties with wetting, cohesion and adhesion of bituminous binder and by environmental conditions with temperature, moisture, loading and layer type. It has been a research subject for a very long time and still not precisely described. A large number of test methods is available to estimate the affinity between aggregates and bituminous binders. These test methods can be subdivided in different ways; a first distinction can be based on the presence or absence of water during the test procedure. If water is present, the evaluation is in fact referred to as water sensitivity or moisture damage testing. Another distinction can be based on the type of sample that is evaluated. The test sample can be loose aggregates coated with a bituminous binder or a compacted asphalt mix sample. Lastly the individual components, bitumen and aggregate, can be tested separately through intrinsic properties. Furthermore, test results can also be based on the quantification of the test results, whether this is based on a qualitative or a quantitative evaluation. In RILEM TC 237 SIB, TG1 the main purpose was to evaluate common test methods, used to assess the affinity of bitumen to aggregate surfaces, to determine, if possible, the repeatability and reproducibility and to give recommendations for improvement. In this study both binders and aggregates have been considered. Three bituminous binders, two unmodified from different sources, one polymer modified binder, and four aggregate types, with different mineralogy, have been selected. The test methods considered in the study include the rolling bottle test, the boiling water stripping test and the bitumen bond strength test; also surface energy was investigated. This chapter presents the results of these tests and their accuracy