The influence of temperature on the fatigue behaviour of bituminous materials for pavement rehabilitation

Abstract

The rehabilitation of deteriorated pavements has become one of the main concerns in road engineering. Thus, the development of more resistant bituminous mixtures to be used as surface layers is a priority for the sector. Gap graded bituminous mixtures manufactured with modified binders at high dosages have been used with satisfactory results. Nevertheless, these materials are susceptible to temperature, and their performance is dependent on the climatic conditions. In order to improve the design of these mixtures, this research has focused on a better understanding of their fatigue behaviour as a function of temperature. This study has been conducted at both binder and mixture levels using the EBADE (Ensayo de BArrido de DEformacioes) and University of Granada - Fatigue Asphalt Cracking Test (UGR-FACT) tests, and it involves the analysis of various types of bituminous materials. The results showed that the temperature could play an important role in the success of this type of solution for the rehabilitation of deteriorated roads. It is therefore of interest to take this parameter into account for the effective design of bituminous mixtures.