COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF BITUMINOUS MIXES USED AS WEARING COURSE IN QUEBEC BETWEEN 1977 AND 1985

PERFORMANCE RELATIVE DES COUCHES D'USURE EN BETON BITUMINEUX POSEES AU QUEBEC ENTRE 1977 ET 1985

This article reports the results of a research made for the Ministere des Transports of Quebec. The objectives were 1) Determine the comparative performance of bituminous mixes used as wearing course in the Quebec environment; 2) Make a comparative analysis of the following mixes MB-4, MB-5, recycled and non-recycled and Skip Mix. The performance has been evaluated on the basis of resistance to cracking, to rutting and to slipperiness. A condition survey was first done on 112 segments totalizing 203 km in length, divided in 1,054 sections of 200 metres long. Forty sections representative of the segments were then studied in detail by taking samples and detailed condition surveying. The variables, divided in four great families, were analyzed statistically. The main conclusions are that some factors such as age, cumulative traffic and aggregates are more related to the performance of the mixes than the characteristics of the mixes themselves. The typology of aggregates, forming 85 percent in volume is the most important variable, explaining close to 40 percent of the noted variation. The aggregates play a role at all levels, influencing the adherence (resistance to slipperiness), the rigidity and the fragility of the mixes. The typology of the mixes explains between 10 and 35 percent of the observed variations. However, the characteristics of the binder have no influence. The selection of an optimal mix requires a compromise between the resistance to cracking and the resistance to rutting, mixes good for one characteristic are not good for the other. However, there exists a cause-effect relation between the two types of degradation. The research shows also that the mix MB-5 is an acceptable mix for all conditions, but less acceptable than MB-4 for the resistance to cracking and less acceptable than Skip Mix for the resistance to rutting. Moreover, other relations, tendencies and discoveries resulting from the analyses are mentioned.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Text is French, abstract only in English.
• Corporate Authors:

  Association Quebecoise du Transp et des Routes Inc

  6455 Christophe-Colomb, Suite 300
  Montreal, Quebec H2S 2G5,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • Laforte, M A
• Publication Date: 1990

Language

• French

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 7-15
• Serial:
  • ROUTES ET TRANSPORTS
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesion; Aggregates; Bituminous mixtures; Cracking; Research projects; Ruts (Pavements); Slipperiness; Stiffness; Wearing course (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rut
• Old TRIS Terms: Resistance
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Research; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00493990
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1990 12:00AM