Tensile reinforcement of asphalt concrete using polymer coating

摘要

This study investigates the possibility of utilizing a polyester resin for reinforcing flexible pavements. The application of a thin-layer coating with a polymer, unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) on the surface of a laboratory-prepared unmodified asphalt concrete mixture was studied as a tensile reinforcement method for such a material. Selected laboratory performance tests were conducted and the results are compared with those of a normal (uncoated) asphalt concrete mixture and a modified asphalt mixture, both mixtures being widely used in Korea. The polymer coating was found to be effective in improving Marshall stability, tensile strength and flexural strength of asphalt concrete. These improvements can be explained as the effect of reinforcement by a thin polymer layer which is fully bonded to the specimen faces. The reinforcement was also effective in reducing the stiffness of the mixture whilst improving load-carrying capacity. This improvement in strength and reduction in stiffness resulted in a retardation of crack initiation resulting from cyclic load application and a significantly improved resistance to crack propagation. The study has shown that there is a possibility of using the polymer coating as a method of tensile reinforcement with flexible pavements.