Rheological characterization of asphalt mastics

• Grant number: 12/09687-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Transportation Infrastructure
• Principal Investigator: Adalberto Leandro Faxina
• Grantee: Franciele Luisa Gutierrez Grecco
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The good quality of a road relies on many aspects and referring specifically to asphalt pavements the project of the HMA mix is one of the main factors. The quality of the HMA mix depends on the appropriate proportion between three basic compounds: mineral aggregate, asphalt binder, and void contents. In the process of mixing the mineral aggregate with the asphalt binder, the smallest mineral particles are cemented, creating the mastic, which is known as an extremely important agent in the failure process of the asphaltic pavements. The mastic has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the HMA mix and also guarantees compacity, impermeability, and workability to them. The mastics have a hardening potential which increases the mixture rutting resistance and that may affect in a positive or negative way its performance in terms of fatigue cracking and thermal cracking. This research plans to analyze the effects that different types of asphalt binder, fillers from two distinct origins and different levels of aging have on the rheological behavior of asphalt mastics. The mastics will be produced using three types of asphalt binder, four filler/asphalt ratios, and fillers from two distinct origins. The aging effect will be evaluated in three levels: virgin, short-term aging, and long-term aging. In order to evaluate the effect of these variables, analyses will be performed based on master curves and Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery (MSCR) tests.(AU)