Evaluation of Warm Mix Asphalt Performance Involving Synthetic Zeolite

Abstract

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) blends at temperatures lower than those in conventional mixtures by 20-50 °C. Many additional advantages, such as a reduced susceptibility to permanent deformation, have exhibited when synthetic zeolites were used as a warm mix asphalt additive. In this research, the best gradation of aggregate was selected, and optimum asphalt content was determined for asphalt concrete layer (surface course) according to Superpave design system. All mixtures were evaluated with some tests which include Marshall characteristics, moisture damage of asphalt mixtures, Immersion–Compression, double punch shear and wheel tracking test. To compact asphalt mixtures with (100 and 150) mm in diameter, Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) was used. Five different percentages (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) of synthetic zeolite were used for preparation of warm mixes to compare with hot mixture for the effect of different percentage of synthetic zeolite on performance asphalt mixture in terms of water sensitivity. The experimental work’s results indicated that the mixture properties were affected by selected percentages of synthetic zeolite to the warm asphalt differently. The WMA mixture with 5 % of synthetic zeolite decreased the rut depths of the mixtures with increase in the punching strength of the mixtures and slight increase in the tensile strength ratio (TSR), compressive strength and index of retained strength (IRS).