A new approach to laboratory roller compaction method and its influence on surface texture and permanent deformation of asphalt mixtures

ABSTRACT

Pavement structures must guarantee safety, trafficability and comfort to highways users during its service life. The quality of these parameters is related to distresses that may occur as surface distortions, that might be caused by mechanical behaviour problems and to surface texture, which also affect highway safety. The surface texture is evaluated by parameters such as microtexture and macrotexture, related to aggregate rugosity and mixture characteristics, respectively. Both mechanical behaviour and surface texture can be affected by the compaction method of the mixture, as it affects the internal structure and the internal friction between aggregate particles, resulting in alterations in the permanent deformation resistance and surface aspects of the mixture. Hence, this paper proposed a new laboratory compaction method, using roller compaction with vibration, considering three aggregate gradations. This study evaluated the effect of the laboratory compaction method in the permanent deformation resistance and the surface texture of samples, comparing to field mixtures. The proposed compaction method presented efficiency for dense-graded mixture. The mixture's performance regarding mechanical behaviour and surface texture according to the compaction method variation was also dependent on the aggregate gradation. Mixtures with a discontinuity on the gradation presented a negative impact due to the vibration process.

KEYWORDS:

• Compaction method
• surface texture
• permanent deformation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Resources for Technological Development (RDT) of Régis Bittencourt Concession, under the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) regulation and Arteris Concessionary.