Compaction characteristics assessment of cold mix patching materials through gyratory shear compactor

Abstract

Cold mix patching materials (CMPMs) are widely employed in pothole repair due to ease of installation and environmental benefits. In order to generate long-lasting pavement repairs, CMPMs must guarantee adequate volumetric properties, which in turn determine a proper pavement serviceability. In this context, the present study aims to provide an improved understanding of the compaction process of CMPMs through a laboratory campaign based on gyratory compaction tests carried out under a wide range of energy. To this end, the volumetric response of nine ready-to-use CMPMs and the evolution of shear stress along their densification process have been investigated at different temperatures.Based on both densification and shear stress curves, two modelling approaches are here presented by the authors. Results demonstrate that the proposed s-shaped function enables densification curves to be studied with a high reliability and provides distinctive parameters to characterize the CMPMs at different stages of compaction. Moreover, the analysis of shear stress data through a two-stage model highlights a certain correlation among physical and mechanical responses of studied mixtures.