Effect of Modifiers and Additives on Fatigue Behavior of Asphalt Concrete Mixes in the Gulf

Abstract

The harsh environment in Gulf countries (GCs) raises the need to use Polymer Modified Asphalt Concrete in road construction to prevent rutting in the early life of the pavement. Once the stiffness of the asphalt concrete layer at high field temperatures, which may reach 72°C, is increased, it will not rut. This has worked well and drastically reduced pavement failure due to rutting. However, the high stiffness of the asphalt concrete makes it susceptible to cracking under repeated traffic loading. Fatigue cracking is observed in parts of the GC roads due to the use of polymer modified asphalt concrete, and it is considered one of the major distress mechanisms that affects asphalt pavement performance.The objective of this study was to explore the effect of modifiers and additives on the fatigue behavior of asphalt concrete mixes in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC). Fatigue tests carried out in this study showed that certain polymers have the ability to improve the fatigue life of local mixes. Polymer modification has increased the resistance to the applied stress (load bearing) and strains (deflection) of local asphalt concrete mixes as compared to plain asphalt concrete mixes.