Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the aging of asphalt concrete facings with time based on the test results from field and laboratory specimens. The mechanical behavior of samples drilled out at three different locations of the Tianhuangping asphalt facing, which had performed for 13 years, was tested, and the properties of the bitumen extracted from the samples were investigated. Test results show that hot production caused most of the aging of the bitumen, and the most severe aging in the field occurred in the most exposed location, but only “skin deep” (0–10 mm) in the asphalt facing. To predict the aging of asphalt facings with time, an accelerated aging method was developed in the laboratory, and a relationship was established between the laboratory-accelerated aging in hours and the field aging in years. Laboratory-accelerated aging test results show that bending strain at failure of asphalt concrete reduced 37 % because of hot production, 25 % in the first 20 years of service, and 6 % in another 30 years of service.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
aging of asphalt facing, hot production, field aging, laboratory-accelerated aging, prediction of aging

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