An experimental study to evaluate the performance of stone mastic asphalt mixtures

• Main Author: Foo, Si Mian.
• Other Authors: Lum Kit Meng
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Transportation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39539
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Since the 1960s, Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) pavement surfaces have been used successfully in Germany on heavily trafficked roads. Due to its excellent performance characteristics, road authorities in Germany and other major European countries soon adopted SMA as a standard wearing course. Since then, SMA has spread and gained acceptance all over the world. This project gives an overview of the history of SMA, its composition, performance characteristics as well as its applications. This project also presents the findings of how the mechanical and physical properties of SMA changes in accordance with changes to temperature. To evaluate such effects of temperature, laboratory investigations were conducted on fabricated samples at a pre-chosen range of temperatures. The testing undertaken in this experimental study comprised the Resilient Modulus Test, Repeated Load Uniaxial Test and Wheel Tracking Load Test. Samples from 3 design unit weight mixtures ranging from 90% RUW to 110% RUW in incremental values of 10% were fabricated to carry out the experimental tests. The results show that samples of 90% RUW yields the highest MR value, hence is the stiffness mix among the 3 mixtures tested. Stiffness of the samples also decreases with increasing temperature. On the other hand, samples of 100% RUW has the highest resistance to permanent deformation with the lowest accumulated micro-strain attained. Hence, a 100% RUW design unit weight is the best mix among the 3 mixtures for the development of stone-to-stone contact. Resistance to permanent deformation also decreases with increasing temperature.