The development of a South African high modulus asphalt mixture using French EME Methodology

Over the past thirty years a type of asphalt mixture called high modulus asphalt mixture (EME, Enrobé à Module Elevé) has become very popular in France in the construction of major roads and highways. EME contains a stiff binder that can be as hard as a 10/20 penetration grade. To ensure that the asphalt mixture has good performance and durability, an asphalt mixture design is carried out and the performance properties, including compactability, water sensitivity, stiffness modulus and resistance to rutting and fatigue are measured and have to meet stringent specifications for EME qualification. Therefore, high modulus mixtures combine high binder content, good aggregate quality, high mastic content and low void content. The high stiffness and fatigue resistance are achieved with the use of very good quality bitumen. As EME asphalt mixtures contain such a hard grade of bitumen, the asphalt production temperature is higher than standard asphalt products, approximately 180 °C. This paper describes how a high modulus asphalt mixture has been developed to meet the highest level of French EME specifications (EME Class 2) using materials obtained from South Africa, with a 10/20 pen grade bitumen that has been manufactured and supplied from a refinery in South Africa and using local aggregates and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP).

• Authors:
  • Lawrence, D
  • Frémont, S
  • Hornsey, B
• Conference:
  • Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa (CAPSA15), 11th, 2015, Sun City, South Africa
• Publication Date: 2015-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 8p
• Monograph Title: 11th Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa: CAPSA15, 16-19 August 2015, Sun City, South Africa

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bitumen; Bituminous pavements; Local materials; Mix design; Pavement performance; Quality control
• Uncontrolled Terms: Materials technology (asphalt/bitumen/concrete)
• Geographic Terms: South Africa
• ATRI Terms: Asphalt; Bitumen; Local materials; Mix design; Pavement performance; Quality control
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01597163
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 22 2016 11:18AM