摘要: |
A method was developed to identify unstable mixes with the help of Superpave gyratory data. The basis of this method is that the primary difference in behavior of a stable mix and an unstable mix is that a stable mix gains in strength with densification and retains it through further compaction and ultimately resists lowering of voids below a particular value, whereas an unstable mix initially gains in strength but loses it beyond a certain densification point and becomes susceptible to shear failure. Hence it is proposed that the strength of a mix be evaluated at two void levels: at 5%, where a mix is expected to have an increased shear strength compared with postconstruction voids, and at 2%, where a well-performing mix should have an increased or at least similar shear strength compared with shear strength at 5%, and where an unstable mix is expected to have a reduced shear strength compared with shear strength at 5% voids. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Superpave gyratory compaction data were obtained for five mixes from wearing courses, and the data were evaluated with the help of in-place rutting data. The gyratory ratio, a ratio of the number of gyrations required to achieve 2% voids and 5% voids, was found to be suitable for characterizing hot-mix asphalt. Theoretical calculations and in-place rutting data show that a gyratory ratio of 4 can be used to differentiate between stable and unstable mixes--mixes with a gyratory ratio less than 4 can be expected to be unstable. |