Experimental study on mechanical properties of stone mastic asphalt

Stone mastic asphalts (SMAs) have been used in Europe for about 20 years. The primary reasons for their use are improved durability and resistance to rutting and cracking. SMAs are now being used in many parts of the United States. Laboratory investigations of SMAs have been limited primarily to conventional Marshall tests so far. The purpose of this study was to evaluate SMAs using mor fundamental performance based tests. To incorporate European experience and for comparison, SMA samples from Switzerland have been considered as part of this investigation. A comparison is made between SMAs of different cellulose fiber contents and two extremely different air void contents. Thermal cracking resistance has been investigated using the SHRP thermal stress restrained specimen tests (TSRST) on fresh and long term oven aged (LTOA) specimens with different cellulose fiber contents and with polymer modified binder obtained from a Swiss plant and from a new road in Switzerland. For comparison TSRST has also been performed on Gussasphalt and on a dense graded mix of an interlaboratory RILEM mix design project. Resilient modulus tests using ASTM-D-4123 were also performed. The results show that the SMA concept requires a new approach to mix design which can lead to mixes with improved mechanical properties. This potential and the great variety in SMAs, however, deserves further performance related testing as there is at present no "ultimate" SMA mix.

• Corporate Authors:

  Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA)

  Duebendorf,    
• Authors:
  • Partl, M N
  • Vinson, T S
  • Hicks, R G
  • Younger, K D
• Publication Date: 1995-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 158p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 113/8

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous binders; Cracking; Durability; Mix design; Pavement performance; Pavements; Properties of materials; Rutting; Stone matrix asphalt; Test procedures; Tests for suitability, service and quality
• ATRI Terms: Cracking; Durability; Material properties; Mix design; Pavement performance; Pavement testing; Polymer modified binder; Rutting; Stone mastic asphalt (SMA); Test method
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01401396
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 23 2012 8:10PM