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Durability of Bituminous Pavements and

Factors Affecting it
Durability of bituminous pavements helps to minimize maintenance cost.
There are different factors which affect the durability of bituminous
pavements are discussed.

The ability of a structure to survive and give continued required performance


throughout its life is called the durability. In the construction of roads, it is
necessary that they survive throughout their design life, with limited
maintenance.

Durability of Bituminous Pavements


Bituminous pavements gains a performance and life based on the material
quality and behavior with which it is constructed. Here the main constituent
is bitumen. There are different possibilities through which a bituminous
material can undergo failure.

 The exposure to the oxygen and different temperature effects the bitumen
can harden
 Bad Quality aggregates used in the road construction may break down
 Aggregate poor quality affects their binding with the bitumen, under
continuous traffic load and weathering action
 Higher void content and permeability problems creating deterioration of the
pavement.

Ageing of Bitumen in Pavements


The exposure of bitumen to the atmosphere will result in its aging. The
hardening rate of the bitumen is dependent on the weathering conditions as
well as the nature of the bitumen.

There are mainly two aging process happens with bitumen. They are:

1. Oxidation Process
The process involves the combining of the oxygen from the air with the
aromatics and the resins. The reaction will give asphaltenes. This will
increase the polar high molecular weight fraction in bitumen. This increase
will make the viscosity of the bitumen to increase.

The increase of viscosity brings the bitumen to an unstable state. The


unstable state reflects discontinuity on the component materials. The
decrease of cohesion due uncertainty creates crack under stress. The
oxidation rate is a detrimental factor in areas of higher temperature.

2. Loss of Volatiles
Presence of low molecular weighed substances in bitumen facilitated by
higher temperature will cause the loss of volatiles. The rate of loss of volatile
for the penetration grade bitumen is relatively small, once it is laid.

The aging of bitumen will cause the hardening condition. The hardening
condition is determined by the low penetration value or an increase in the
penetration index. This also tends to increase the softening point of the
bitumen sample. Such hardening will make the material brittle and cause
cracking in severe conditions.
The aging of bitumen can be represented by means of Ageing Index.
Where,

The figure-1, below shows the aging of the bitumen during mixing, storing,
transportation, application and throughout it service period.

Fig.1: Ageing of Bitumen represented by Ageing Index (From the Shell Bitumen
Handbook,2003)
Permeability as a Durability Factor of Bituminous
Pavements
The extent to which water and the air penetration will happen to the
bituminous mixture is dependent on the permeability of the bituminous
pavements.

The measurement of permeability of a bitumen sample can be carried out by


a simple test. Into one side of the bitumen sample, the fluid is penetrated
under pressure. The water that is expelled out of the opposite side of the
bitumen sample is measured.
The permeating fluid used can be either air and water. The permeability
ranges for three different asphalt mixtures are given in the table-1.

Table.1: Void Classification Based on Permeability Ranges for Asphalt


Mixtures
Permeability, k Permeability
The Voids Type The Mixture
(cm/s) Condition

10-4 or lower Impervious Impermeable Dense

Stone Mastic
10-4 to 10-2 Poor drainage Semi-effective
asphalt

10-4 or higher Good drainage effective Porous asphalt

The factors affecting the permeability of the bituminous pavements are:

1. Quantity of voids
2. The void distribution size
3. The void Continuity

The figure-2 shows the variation of permeability in an asphalt concrete, hot


rolled asphalt, porous asphalt mixtures and stone mastic asphalt, with
respect to the total voids present in the respective sample.
Fig.2: The variation of permeability with respect to percentage air void content for
different asphalt mixtures
The voids are also dependent on the aggregate nature, that is used in the
mix. The packing of the aggregates, along with their shape, size and texture
will govern a number of voids that are present in the whole mix.

Hence the compaction has a role in the decrease or increase of the void.
Here quality compaction is of greater concern.

Adhesion in Bituminous Pavements


The bitumen should possess a quality adhesion property with the aggregate,
to facilitate proper binding. This factor is the main parameter questioning
the durability of the bituminous structures.

The adhesion properties and the stripping resistance of the bituminous


pavements are dependent on the following factors, as mentioned below:

1. The Properties of Aggregates


The main properties of aggregate that affects the bitumen adhesion property
are:

 The porosity of aggregates,


 Mineralogy, shape and surface texture of the aggregates
 the aggregate surface coatings and the presence of dust
 Surface area and absorption property
 The weathering grade and moisture content
 The abrasion value of aggregates and their pH
 The additives and the exposure history of the aggregates employed

The mineralogical and the physical nature of aggregates that are employed
for the bitumen design mix affect the adhesion property.

In general, the aggregates that have more siliceous content i.e. like
rhyolites, quartzites, granites etc. are more prone to the failure caused due
to lack of adhesion. But the lime stones and igneous rocks have worked well.
These own a complex material interaction.

Other factors that govern the adhesion is the surface behavior of the
aggregates. A surface energy is possessed by those aggregates that have
unbalanced surface charges. This will lead to the breaking of co-ordination
bonds in the whole crystal lattice and in the polar environment of the
minerals.

If this surface of aggregate is coated with an opposite charge, the surface


energy will help in promoting the bonding.

The total volume of the pore space that is permeable and the size of the
pores are the main two factors that affect the absorption of bitumen into the
aggregates.

The absorptive surface that is present in the bitumen can be increased with
the presence of fine microstructure of pores, voids and the micro cracks.
This, in turn, is dependent on the quality and weathering state of the
aggregate.

Greater the roughness of the aggregate surface, more is the adhesion. The
smooth surface of aggregates makes them wet. So, a balance must be
maintained so that wettability of the aggregate and the binding property in
aggregates is attained.

That is, the aggregate must not be too rough nor too smooth. The effect of
mineralogy is sometimes masked by owning a rough surface.

2. The Bitumen Properties


 The composition and the source of bitumen
 The durability factors
 Weathering parameters
 The curing time and oxidation effects
 Use of additives
 Electrical Polarity

Viscosity and surface tension are the main characteristics of bitumen that
affect the adhesion of bitumen with the aggregates. The extent to which the
bitumen is absorbed into the pores of the aggregate is governed by these
factors mentioned.

The viscosity and surface tension are parameters that vary with the
temperature. Always the mixing of aggregates and the bitumen is carried
out a higher temperature. It is at maximum 180 degrees of 40/60 pen
bitumen. This is carried out at high temperatures to make bitumen
completely coat the aggregate.

Chemical absorption of bitumen onto the surface of aggregate has been


observed. Bitumen-aggregate interface has been found that is strong bond
forming a layer of thickness 180 Amstron. The layer consists of Ketones,
dicarboxylic anhydrides, carboxylic acids, sulphoxide and components that
bear nitrogen.

The figure-3 shows the alignment of bitumen molecules in the direction of


polarity of the substrate. Aggregate mainly possess a negative surface.
Fig.3: Representation of bitumen molecules attracted to negatively charged
aggregates
3. Interactive Mix Proportions for Bituminous Pavements
 Method of production
 The mixed type
 Incorporation of additives
 The filler type
 The thickness of the film
 The content of binder
 Compaction and grading
 Cohesion factors

4. External Influences on Bituminous Pavements


 The pH of the water
 Temperature effects
 Design and workmanship
 Drainage
 Traffic
 Construction
 The presence of salt
 The relative humidity
 Annual Precipitation, Light, Heat, and Radiation

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