Development and optimization of ultimate performance self-levelling epoxy asphalt concrete (USEA) for prefabricated deck pavement

Abstract

Developing prefabricated bridge deck pavement systems can fundamentally avoid the drawbacks caused by traditional on-site construction such as poor continuity of the construction process and significant differences in pavement layer performance. Prefabricated bridge deck pavement requires that the bridge pavement is completed with the steel deck together in the factory indoors thus it needs the concrete has better self-leveling characteristics which is rare for existing pavement materials. This article develops the ultimate performance self-levelling epoxy asphalt concrete (USEA) which both have excellent self-leveling properties and comprehensive performance. The study initially established the self-leveling asphalt concrete rolling model based on asphalt film thickness theory and Hertz contact theory and the critical rolling mechanical calculation results states that the aggregate particles and the skeleton amounts are the key elements for fluidity of concrete. Comprehensive the analysis of rolling model and research on the curing reaction process of epoxy resin, the study raises the material configuration of USEA and determine the gradation by the Bailey’s method. To guarantee the better pavement performance of USEA, the study designs the orthogonal test and establish the Entropy-TOPSIS model to optimize the details mortar schemes of concrete. Through the model calculation, the epoxy resin content and the SBS modified asphalt oil-stone ratio are determined as 20 % and 8.0 % respectively. In this scheme, the high temperature stability is 2805 times·mm-1, the low temperature bending strain is 3662με and the fatigue life can reach 1.200 million times. The study provides a material selection for the development of prefabricated bridge pavement system and the technical reference for the development of other self-leveling materials which has constructive practical significance.