Moisture damage susceptibility of asphalt mixtures: experimental characterization and modelling

This dissertation aims to obtain an advanced understanding of the influence of moisture on pavement durability by developing a set of tools, i.e. experimental methods and computational models, which will provide insight into the fundamental moisture damage processes and on their impact on pavement systems. Based on this knowledge, researchers and practitioners will be able not only to design pavements with increased resiliency, thereby providing reliable services to road users, but also to minimize the risks in the face of changing climate conditions .Moisture diffusion is well-known to degrade the mechanical properties of asphalt mortars, namely bitumen, filler and sand, thus increasing the propensity of pavements to cracking. To determine the changes in the cohesion properties of the mortar, uniaxial tension tests were performed. Mortar samples were prepared and then subjected to five combinations of moisture and thermal conditioning, in an attempt to reproduce the various conditioning states that pavements undergo in the field, before being tested. Tensile strength and fracture energy were used to evaluate the changes in mechanical properties due to the various conditioning protocols. To post-process the experimental data, a new data analysis procedure was suggested in order to obtain a more accurate calculation of fracture energy. The procedure uses nonlinear finite element analysis to specify the unloading response outside the fracture zone, and then utilizes this information to compute the fracture energy of the binders. This methodology yields a framework for the calculation of fracture energy when only force-displacement data are available and therefore the estimation of the true stress-strain curve is not feasible . In conclusion, this thesis contributes to establishing a relationship of the physico-mechanical properties of the constituent materials and mixture morphology with the moisture susceptibility of pavement structures.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:9c25df0e-2df0-4d30-b9aa-d95a31fcaafd
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9789492516466
• Supplemental Notes:
  • PhD thesis
• Authors:
  • Varveri, A
• Publication Date: 2017-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 1 file

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous pavements; Deterioration; Finite element method; Mix design; Properties of materials; Test procedures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Materials technology (asphalt/bitumen/concrete)
• ATRI Terms: Asphalt; Deterioration; Finite element method; Material properties; Mix design; Moisture sensitivity; Test method
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01666197
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 9789492516466
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 17 2018 12:09PM