Evaluation of Epoxy Asphalt Concrete Damping Parameters Using Impact Resonance Test

Abstract

Abstract An evaluation of epoxy asphalt concrete (EAC) damping parameters based on the impact resonance test (IRT) is presented. The EAC beam specimens for the IRT were designed and tested under different temperatures. The damping parameters of EAC were then calculated via the logarithmic decrement method. The theoretical natural frequencies of the EAC beams were calculated and compared with the test results as a verification of the IRT, and the comparison results indicate that the IRT is an effective method for determining the damping parameters of EAC. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in order to evaluate the effect of load modes, structure types, and temperatures by means of IRT with different impulsive load modes under different temperatures for EAC beams with different support types. The results show that the damping parameters are not affected by the load modes and are affected little by the structural modes. However, they decrease significantly with increasing test temperature. The tested damping parameters can provide parameters for the accurate dynamic analysis of the EAC wearing course on bridge decks.