Abstract
The goal of this study was to analyze the structural sensitivity of a flexible pavement, whose asphalt layers underwent variations in its mechanical properties due to the asphalt binder content and the mix design method Marshall and Superpave. A variation of ±0.5% within the optimum asphalt binder contents was used (service tolerance) considering possible permissible variations in the asphalt binder content during the asphalt mixture manufacturing process. The values of resilient modulus and indirect tensile strength (Brazilian test) of the resulting asphalt mixtures were applied to the reference pavement structure analyzed by the me-PADS software. The results show that the variations in the asphalt binder content and the asphalt mixtures design method influence the mechanical properties and corresponding structural responses of the pavement investigated: the asphalt layers designed by the Marshall method presented greater sensitivity to the variation in asphalt binder content, which may constitute a technical differential of asphalt mixtures designed by the Superpave method.
Highlights
Hot mix asphalt (HMA) is the most common material used for surface course of asphalt pavements in different countries (Fritzen and Motta, 2016)
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the structural sensitivity of a reference pavement structure considering the possible in#luence of the permissible variation in the optimum asphalt binder content of the asphalt mixture on its mechanical properties and corresponding structural responses of the pavement, under speci#ic loading conditions
The pavements with asphalt layers projected using the Marshall mix design method showed greater maximum vertical de#lection recoverable and smaller horizontal stresses, for all levels of loading analyzed. This behavior it is probably associated with the fact that the asphalt mixtures projected using the Marshall method produces more #lexible asphalt layers than the mixtures projected using the Superpave method
Summary
Hot mix asphalt (HMA) is the most common material used for surface course of asphalt pavements in different countries (Fritzen and Motta, 2016). Determining the optimum asphalt binder content assists in the selection of the asphalt mixture with the best volumetric characteristics, and stiffness and #lexibility properties to avoid cracks due to fatigue and early plastic deformations, providing comfort and safety to the surface course throughout its service life. According to Al-Humeidawi (2016), the Marshall mix design method has been the most widely used method in many countries. This method is based on empirical experiments and has limitations in verifying the effects of traf#ic and its mechanical properties on pavement performance. For Ahmed et al (2012) and many other researchers (Asi, 2007; Gouveia et al, 2007; Khedr and Saudy, 2016; Almeida Jr, 2018), the Marshall method is the most common in tropical countries
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