EVALUATION OF CONSTRUCTION LIMESTONE AGGREGATE SOURCED EN THE NORTHERN PART OF JORDAN USING SUPERPAVE TESTS

摘要

SUPERPAVE is an acronym thaT stands for Superior PERforming asphalt PAVEments. Super-pave system is the outcome of a 5-year, $150 million research program (the Strategic Highway Research Program or SHRP) that was conducted during the time period of 1987-1992 in the United States (US) to enhance the performance of asphalt pavements. Superpave system developed and used tests for consensus and source aggregate properties to improve their specifications and criteria. Limestone aggregate sourced in the northern part of Jordan was evaluated according to the Superpave tests. Therefore, the study aimed at evaluating the limestone aggregate for Superpave consensus and source aggregate properties to investigate the suitability of this type of aggregate for construction of highway pavements in Jordan. Limestone is considered the most common aggregate type that is used for pavement construction in Jordan. The Superpave tests for consensus properties used to evaluate the aggregate included: coarse aggregate angularity (CAA), flat and elongated (F&E) particles, fine aggregate angularity (FAA), and sand equivalent (SE) tests. In addition, other tests for source aggregate properties including: Los Angeles (LA) abrasion, specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregate, specific gravity and absorption of fine aggregate, and deleterious materials tests were used in the evaluation. Basalt aggregate was also used in this study for comparison with the limestone aggregate. Basalt aggregate exists heavily in the eastern part of Jordan. In the last few years, due to the high abrasion value for the currently-used limestone aggregate that leads to polished pavement surface, highway agencies in Jordan started to use basalt for the construction of highway pavements to improve skid resistance and reduce pavement rutting.