1

Behavior of Asphalt Binder

and Asphalt Concrete
2
Mixture Classification
type of binder
asphalt cement
liquid asphalt
aggregate gradation
dense-graded (well-graded)
open-graded
production method
hot-mix (hot-laid)**
cold-mix (cold-laid)
3
AC Mix Design
Asphalt Concrete = binder + aggregate

select & proportion components that provide adequate performance
over design life @ reasonable cost

VOLUMETRIC process
V
air
> 3% to preclude bleeding, instability
V
air
< 8% for durability
V
asp
to coat, bind, & satisfy (absorption) agg

WEIGH components in production
4
AC Mix Design
adequate performance assessed based on MIXTURE
PROPERTIES

stiffness
stability
durability
flexibility
fatigue resistance
fracture (tensile) strength
thermal characteristics
skid resistance
permeability
workability
5
ASPHALT CONCRETE
MIXTURES
Asphalt Concrete = binder + aggregate
3 stages of Life
mixing (fluid asphalt cement)
curing (viscoelastic solid)
aging (environmental effects & loading)
6
Behavior depends on:
Temperature
Time of loading (Traffic Speed)
Aging (properties change with time)

Factors Influencing the Behavior
7
Permanent Deformation
Function of warm weather and traffic
Courtesy of FHWA
8
Stability
resistance to
permanent
deformation under
repetitive loading
rutting, shoving
Marshall Stability

9
Stability
mechanical / frictional interlock between
aggregate particles
same factors that influence creep


rough, angular, dense-
graded aggregate
+ binder (w/ voids filled)
| S
ac
| degree of compaction
(> 3% air)


|Stability

10
Stability
11
Flexibility
ability to conform to long-term variations in
underlying layer elevations
settlement (clay), heave (frost, moisture)


open-graded
aggregate
| binder

|Flexibility

12
Fatigue Resistance
resistance to fracture caused by repetitive loading
(bending)
fatigue (alligator) cracking



dense-graded aggregate
| binder
| degree of compaction
|Fatigue Resistance

13
14
Tensile (Fracture) Strength
resistance to thermal cracking
important @ low temps
large induced stresses (restrained contraction)
weak subgrade
transverse cracking
primarily controlled by binder
limiting tensile strength (4-10 MPa) ~ limiting
stiffness



dense graded aggregate
| degree of compaction
| binder


|Tensile Strength

15
Low Temperature Behavior
Low Temperature
Cold Climates
Winter
Rapid Loads
Fast moving trucks
16
Thermal Cracking
Courtesy of FHWA
17
Aging
Asphalt reacts with oxygen
oxidative or age hardening
Short term
Volatilization of specific components
During construction process
Long term
Over life of pavement (in-service)
18
Permeability
ease w/ which air & water can pass through or
into AC
moisture damage, accelerated aging
inversely proportional to durability




dense graded aggregate
| degree of compaction
| binder
+ Permeability
19
Durability
resistance to weathering & abrasive action of traffic
exposure to air (aging), water, & traffic
moisture damage (stripping, loss of stiffness),
accelerated aging

| S
ac
| binder



strong, hard, clean, dry aggregate
resistant to polishing, crushing, freeze-
thaw effects; not water sensitive
dense graded aggregate
| degree of compaction
|Durability

20
Mix Design
select & proportion component materials to
obtain desired properties @ reasonable cost
properties of component materials
properties of composite material
economic factors & availability of materials
construction methods

21
Mix Design
select aggregate blend
determine optimum
binder content
balance desired
properties

22
Mix Design
Asphalt
Type
Aggregate
Gradation
Binder
Content
Property Hard Soft Dense Open High Low
Degree of
Compaction
Stability X X X High
Durability ---- ---- X X High
Fatigue
Resistance
X
(thick)
X X High
Tensile
Strength
X X X High
Skid
Resistance
---- ----
X
(surface)
X ----
23
Mix Design
selection of aggregate blend
aggregate properties (primarily gradation)
compactibility
selection of binder content
surface area of aggregates
volumetrics of mixture (air voids, voids between
aggregates)
mechanical properties of mixture from laboratory
testing

24
Thermal Cracking
Courtesy of FHWA
25
Binder-Aggregate Bonding
wettability
viscosity (temp)
composition (oxygen)
durability

surface chemistry (mineral
composition)
surface texture
porosity
surface condition
(cleanliness, moisture)
Binder Aggregate
26
Binder-Aggregate Bonding
ac wetting the aggregate surface
low surface energy
need dry aggregates
polar nature of ac / electrostatic interaction
mechanical bonding
failure
flaws @ interface
stripping

27
Binder-Aggregate Bonding
28
Composite Material
2 components physically combined w/
some AIR VOIDS
1 continuous phase
binder - viscous, viscoelastic
aggregate** - solid
dense aggregate skeleton w/ sufficient binder to
bind and provide durability
> 90% by weight aggregate
29
Composite Material
30
Permanent Deformation
Function of warm weather and traffic
Courtesy of FHWA
31
Description of Asphalt Concrete
Particulate composite material that consists of:
Aggregates.
Asphalt.
Air voids.
32
Review of the Properties of
Particulate Composites
The properties of the composite can be
calculated from the properties of the
constituents.
For simplicity, assume asphalt concrete to be
represented by particulate (aggregates), and
matrix (asphalt and air). Also, assume elastic
behavior.

33
Parallel Model
The particulate and matrix
carry the same strain.
m m p p c
V E V E E + =
V
p
= volume of particulate

V
m
= volume of matrix
Used to describe soft particles in a hard matrix
34
Series Model
The particulate and matrix
carry the same stress.
m p p m
m p
c
V E V E
E E
E
+
=
Used to describe hard particles in a soft matrix
35
Hirschs Model
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
a
a
p
p
a a p p c
E
V
E
V
X 1
E V E V
1
X
E
1
X: represents the degree of bonding
36
t
o

t
r

Stress
t
o

t
r
time
Strain
t
o

t
r

time
Strain
Elastic
Viscous
Viscoelastic Behavior of Asphalt
Concrete
time
Viscoelastic response =
Immediate elastic +
Time dependent viscous
37
Viscoelastic Models
Viscoelastic Model: Mathematical expression
for the relationship between stress, strain, and
strain rate.
Combinations of basic rheological models.
The combinations mean that there are different
mechanisms due to different chemical and
physical interactions that govern the response.
38
Basic responses
= t G
q = t

Viscous
t
o

t
r

Stress
t
o

t
r
time
Strain
t
o
t
r

time
Elastic
time
Viscous
t
o
t
r

time
Strain
Strain
39
Maxwell Model
total s d
= +
total
G
t t

q
= +
Constant Stress
(Creep)
Constant Strain
(Relaxation)
time
Strain
time
Stress
40
Kelvin Model
d s total
o + o = o
Constant Stress
(Creep)
Constant Strain
(Relaxation)
time
Strain
time
Stress
q + = o

G
total
41
Burger Model
Constant Stress
(Creep)
time
Strain
42
Asphalt Binder Behavior
Viscoelastic
behavior
Temperature
Value depends
on asphalt type
Elastic part
is negligible

Viscous
behavior
Temperature scale
Semi solid or solid
fluid
43
Viscous Behavior of Fluids
q t

=
q t t

+ =
yield

Shear
Stress
Shear
Rate
t
Slope = q
(Viscosity)

Shear
Stress
Shear
Rate
t
t
yield
Yield
stress
Newtonian
Non Newtonian
Bingham behavior
44
1 n
A
n
>
= t

Shear
Stress
Shear
Rate

Shear
Stress
Shear
Rate
t
1 n
A
n
<
= t

t

Viscous Behavior of Fluids

Non Newtonian
Shear Thinning
Non Newtonian
Shear Thickening
Increase in viscosity with
increase in strain rate
Decrease in viscosity with
increase in strain rate
45
Why do we need to model the
response?
Conduct a creep or a relaxation test.
Fit a model to the data.
Determine the material parameters.
Describe the material parameters based on design
conditions
Use the model to predict performance under
different loads and applications.
46
Permanent Deformation
Function of warm weather and traffic
Courtesy of FHWA