Investigation of effect of temperature on water vapor diffusing into asphalt mixtures

摘要

This study investigated the effect of temperature on Phase I water vapor diffusion in asphalt mixtures. A test protocol with a series of Phase I water vapor diffusion tests was designed and performed on hot mix asphalt specimens and fine aggregate mixture specimens. A Gravimetric Sorption Device was utilized to perform the diffusion tests on three replicate specimens of each mixture type at five temperatures. A relative humidity differential was established between the inside and the outside of the test specimen and drove water vapor to diffuse into the specimen until reaching equilibrium. The mass of the test specimen was continuously measured at a frequency of every 5 s using the magnetic suspension balance. The mass of water molecules diffused into the specimen at any time point was calculated to be the measured mass of the specimen at that time point less the initial weight of the specimen.