Initiation of distress in asphalt concrete mixture after practicing durability test

Abstract

The environmental influence on the fatigue life and seviciability of asphalt concrete pavement is considered as a significant issue in the analysis of pavement distresses. In the current work, black-top substantial blends were ready with ideal fastener content. The mixtures were compacted in a slab mold by laboratory rollers. Beam specimens were obtained from the slab samples. The first part on the beam specimens was subjected to moisture damage while the second part was subjected to long term ageing. The third part was denoted as the control mixture. Ahh the beam specimens were subjected to dynamic flexural stresses and tested under various constant strain levels and environmental conditions. It was observed that the long term aged mixture was able to sustain the flexural stiffness for 1000 seconds before reaching the failure while the moisture damaged mixture exhibit failure after 65 seconds of loading and the control mixture show the sign of failure after practicing the dynamic stresses for 200 seconds. Higher testing temperature of 30⁰C was able to control the decline of the stiffness and exhibit an average percentage of initial flexural stiffness of 75 %. However, the (20 and 5) ⁰C testing environment exhibits an average percentage of initial flexural stiffness of (65, and 55) % respectively. Higher testing temperature of (30, and 20) ⁰C exhibit higher elapsed time of (233, and 66.6) % when compared with the cold testing environment of 5⁰C respectively.