Aligning laboratory and field compaction practices for asphalt - the influence of compaction temperature on mechanical properties

• Published in: The international journal of pavement engineering Vol. 17; no. 8; pp. 727 - 740
• Main Authors: Bijleveld, F.R., Miller, S.R., de Bondt, A.H., Dorée, A.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 13-09-2016; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Alloys; Asphalt; Asphalt pavements; Binders; Compacting; compaction; cracking resistance; Density; fracture energy; Fracture mechanics; Mechanical properties; Optimization; Rollers; Temperature
• ISSN: 1029-8436; 1477-268X
• DOI: 10.1080/10298436.2015.1019494

The approach used to identify a compaction temperature in the laboratory, based on binder viscosity, provides a single compaction temperature whereas, on-site, a roller operates within a temperature window. The effect on the density and mechanical properties of rolling during a temperature window remains unclear. Consequently, asphalt concrete binder mixtures were compacted in different temperature windows in the laboratory using a Roller Sector Compactor, and the observed phenomena were then related to field study observations. The results show that while similar densities can be achieved in a broad range of temperature windows, other mechanical properties such as fracture energy may decline up to 30% if compacted outside the optimum temperature window. These results indicate that a compaction temperature window should form part of mix design and quality control. The paper proposes specifying a compaction window based on temperatures and the resulting mechanical properties rather than a single compaction temperature.