The effect of aging on asphalt mix

Abstract

Road pavements like other civil infrastructures have a service life. Asphalt pavements get aged and become weaker. Bitumen plays a key role in aging of asphalt. In previous studies, bitumen aged separately and then it added to the asphalt mixture while in reality bitumen ages within asphalt mixture. In this study, asphalt mixture was aged to simulate the site condition. Two types of bitumen 60/70 and 80/100 were used in samples and tested for aging according to AASHTO R 30 for short-term and long-term, and then Samples were tested for resilient modulus, dynamic creep test and indirect tensile strength ratio. Aged samples were compared to the conventional ones (no aging) to indicate the effect of aging on asphalt mix. Results showed that resilient modulus for both types of bitumen were almost the same, especially at 40°C temperature. Permanent deformation and tensile strength ratio of asphalt mixture decreased as it aged.