Stress-strain-strength behavior of asphalt core in embankment dams during construction

Abstract

The stress-strain behavior of asphalt concrete strongly depends on temperature and strain rate. The asphalt concrete in a dam core is placed and compacted at high temperature, and the temperature reduces slowly inside the embankment dam during construction. Embankment dams are constructed layer by layer, and it is typical to spend one to three years to complete a 100–150 m high structure. This paper investigates the stress-strain-strength behavior of the asphalt concrete by conducting triaxial compression tests at different temperatures in the range 5–60 °C, at different axial strain rates in the range 1%/min to 0.00025%/min, and by performing triaxial creep tests. The tests are carried out on asphalt specimens drilled out of a compacted dam core.