On the combined effect of moisture diffusion and cyclic pore pressure generation in asphalt concrete

In this paper, a new moisture conditioning protocol which attempts to distinguish the contributions of long- and short-term moisture damage, i.e. moisture diffusion and cyclic pore pressure generation, in asphalt mixtures is presented. The capability of the proposed protocol to rank various asphalt mixtures of known field performance for their short- and long-term sensitivity to moisture is evaluated on the basis of the Tensile Strength Ratio. Asphalt specimens with different types of aggregates and asphalt binders were conditioned by various combinations of water bath immersion and cyclic pore pressures by means of the Moisture Induced Sensitivity Tester. The results show that the proposed conditioning protocol can be used to evaluate the moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixtures and distinguish among mixtures with different moisture damage characteristics. In addition, it is shown that the use of cyclic pore pressures has a significant effect and can be used as an accelerated moisture conditioning procedure.Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Microstructural self-healing of bituminous materials: Combined experimental and numerical study

Bituminous materials form a class of materials that possess the intrinsic ability to selfheal. This self-healing capability is evidenced by the observation that the service life of these materials ‘in the field’ exceeds the service life as predicted by standard mechanical laboratory tests. This mismatch between laboratory prediction and field service life is usually accounted for by applying a shift or healing factor. In this contribution we demonstrate a model that is based on the observation that bitumen possesses a microstructure on the micrometre length scale, as can be observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). On this scale bitumen can be regarded as a two-phase material, where the phases have a distinct stiffness. . One of the phases has a very typical appearance and is often referred to as ‘bee-phase’ [1-3]. The interface between the phases can be regarded as a manifold that is defined by stiffness gradient in the material. From mechanical considerations damage will initiate within this manifold. Modest variations in thermodynamic conditions (thus without melting the material) will already lead to rearrangement of phases, and a new damage initiation manifold, meanwhile the accumulated damage is erased. Starting from two experimental microstructural arrangements, one before and one after phase rearrangement, a finite element mesh is produced. For both phases a viscoelastic constitutive model is implemented. The interface manifold is treated equally, but is allowed to acquire damage, as are the other phases, to a lesser extent. In this way, using experimental observations as a starting point, it is demonstrated that the effect of healing in bituminous materials can be treated micromechanically, and leads to quantitative results. This opens the way to quantify the healing potential of a bituminous material upon its microstructure. Optimal manifolds to accommodate the healing behaviour can then be derived. The experimental challenge will be to engineer the interface manifold in accordance with the desired healing potential of the material.Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

The Influence of Air Void Content on Moisture Damage Susceptibility of Asphalt Mixtures: A Computational Study

Because of the difficulties associated with the generation of finite element meshes based on X-ray computed tomography scans and with the extraordinary computational demands in performing three-dimensional (3-D) finite element analyses, past modeling efforts have focused primarily on two-dimensional representations of asphalt mixtures and have placed no emphasis on the inclusion of the air voids network in the body of an asphalt concrete specimen. A 3-D micromechanical moisture damage model has been developed and implemented in the finite element system CAPA-3D capable of addressing individually the three main phases of asphalt concrete: aggregate, mastic, and air voids. The 3-D finite element meshes of different types of asphalt mixtures were generated on the basis of X-ray scans. By means of CAPA-3D, the significance of the air voids structure in the development of moisture damage in asphalt concrete specimens was demonstrated. Availability of the model enables evaluation and ranking of the contribution of the characteristics of the individual mixture components to the overall mixture moisture resistance.Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Chemo-mechanics of ageing on bituminous materials

Ageing of bitumen is a complex process. It is accompanied by major chemical and mechanical changes. In this study, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) tests were utilized to investigate the effect of ageing on the chemical and mechanical properties of bituminous materials. Bitumen films with thickness of 2 mm were exposed to laboratory ageing at various conditions. Specifically, different combinations of ageing time, temperature and pressure were applied on the materials. The FTIR tests results were used to quantify the changes in the chemical functional groups and to calculate ageing indices (carbonyl index and sulfoxide index) of bitumen. In addition, the DSR tests results were analysed to determine the evolution of the rheological properties of bitumen. A linear relationship was made between the ageing indices and complex shear modulus, providing thus a chemo-mechanics framework to describe bitumen ageing. The results were validated by using data of field aged samples. Finally, the influence of ageing on the parameters of two viscoelastic models was determined.Pavement Engineerin

Effect of using of reclaimed asphalt and/or lower temperature asphalt on the availability of the road network

The use of reclaimed asphalt, secondary component materials and/or additives and lower temperature asphalt are being increasingly used in order to improve the sustainability of asphalt production. The use of reclaimed asphalt reduces the need for virgin materials whilst lower temperature asphalts have reduced CO2 emissions, increased sustainability, improved working conditions for construction and maintenance crews, reduced noise level on the work sites, extended paving season and provided financial benefits from lower production and transport costs. However, there is uncertainty about the ageing and durability performance of these technologies because there is limited information available on their long-term performance. Changes in durability will affect the availability of the road network for highway authorities. CEDR commissioned a European project to assess these uncertainties. A site trial was commissioned on one of the Irelands busiest motorways (M3), comprising stone mastic asphalt mixtures containing varying proportions of the reclaimed asphalt with some using warm mix technology. The site has been monitored regularly over a full calendar year for the material performance. A suite of laboratory tests have been undertaken concentrating on the combined effect of ageing and moisture damage on the performance of asphalt mixtures on the site trial. The findings have been used to develop life-cycle analysis models to customise them for the effect of using alternative component materials on the availability of the network and their overall financial and environmental cost, both initial and whole-life. The costs identified are both direct (of the construction and maintenance) and indirect (on society in general, such as congestion). The paper describes the model and the assurance that can be given to the assumptions made within the model from the research findings. Comparative sensibility studies are included.Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Effect of using of reclaimed asphalt and/or lower temperature asphalt on the availability of the road network

There is a need for a method for assessing the results from changes in the potential durability of road materials due to the inclusion of reclaimed and secondary component materials in the manufacture of new road materials. Such changes will have an effect on the cost of the construction maintenance, both financially to the client and environmentally to society in general, and any savings may be transitory. A site trial has been laid of mixtures with and without reclaimed asphalt and work started to assess their durability from early-life properties. The trials are being monitored for their initial performance whilstlaboratory trials are concentrating on the combined effect of ageing and moisture damage on the performance of asphalt mixtures on the trial. All three strands are being used to develop life-cycle analysis models to customise them for the effect of using alternative component materials on the availability of the network and their overall financial and environmental cost, both initial and whole-life. The costs will be identified as being direct (of the construction and maintenance) and indirect (on society in general, such as congestion).Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience