Effect of storage time on mechanical behavior of a cold asphalt mixture produced in a small plant

ABSTRACT

A considerable part of the Brazilian road network is concentrated in regions with low traffic volumes, in which paving and maintaining existing asphalt coatings in minimum traffic conditions is a constant challenge. In this context, Cold Pre Mixed (CPM) stands out as an adequate solution to supply the demand for asphalt mixtures in these places. The present work aimed to evaluate the mechanical behavior of an asphalt mixture manufactured in a small plant, during the storage time of the mixture. Initially, a dense PMF metering project was established in the laboratory to provide the necessary parameters for the production and control of the mixture manufactured at the plant. In possession of the project, about 360 kg of mixture were produced to perform stability, flow, tensile strength tests by diametral compression, in addition to obtaining volumetric parameters of compacted samples after 1, 7, 15, 30 and 60 manufacturing days. The results demonstrated a relationship between the storage time of the mixture and the different parameters analyzed, that is, the loss of moisture in the storage provided stiffening of the mixture, lower densities of the compacted samples with a consequent increase in the voids of the specimens, associated with falling resistance and deformability.

Keywords
Marshall dosage; resistance; asphalt emulsion