Stone Mastic Asphalt Mixture Study for Bituminous Concrete Courses: A Design andPerformance Evaluation

摘要

The primary objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the performance ofthese mixes by performing fatigue tests resilient modulus tests and creep tests. (2) To input the resilient modulus, creep and fatigue data into the VESYS III-A pavement performance prediction model to determine the performance of the SMA mixes compared to the performance of the conventional, dense-graded asphalt mixes. Three surface course mixes were designed using the following mastic types: Cellulose fibers, (2) Mineral fibers, and (3) Polymerized asphalt (Novophalt). All the SMA mixtures tested were found to have higher resilient moduli, higher fatigue life, and higher resistance to creep loading than the conventional mixtures. The VESYS performance prediction model found that when a SMA surface course was used over a conventional paving system, the pavement had lower rut depths than a system containing a conventional surfacer layer. A conventional pavement system containing SMA binder course was also found to have lower fatigue cracking than systems with a conventional binder layer. Pavement systems with SMA mixtures used in the surface and binder courses, over a conventional asphalt base course, were found to give superior performance and a longer pavement life than any of the pavement systems analyzed.