Analysis of the effect of the compaction procedure of asphalt specimens with marshall and gyratory compactor on the volumetric and mechanical properties

Abstract

The study is focused on evaluating the influence of compaction variables with the Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) in volumetric and mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures. At the Road Research Laboratory of the UPC-BarcelonaTech specimens of continuous (AC16S) and gap-graded (BBTM11B) mixtures with 50/70 penetration bitumen were produced. Three vertical pressure levels, three angles of gyration and five compaction temperatures were used and the influence of these variables on the shear stress, density, air-void content and stiffness modulus was analyzed. The stiffness modulus and densities obtained in samples produced with SGC and Marshall hammer at different temperatures were also compared. For the studied mixtures it was shown that the variation of the temperature slightly affects the volumetric properties of the mixtures and introduces a significant change in the stiffness modulus.