Assessment of relationship between dynamic and seismic moduli of asphalt concrete mixtures

Xuequn Bai, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

Asphalt concrete is the most commonly used surface layer in pavements. Asphalt concrete mixes are traditionally characterized based on resilient modulus tests. However, researchers have identified that the dynamic modulus measurement should be performed to better characterize the viscoelastic behavior of asphalt concrete. To characterize viscoelastic behavior, dynamic modulus measurements are performed at different temperatures and loading times and measurements are combined together in a master curve that represents properties of asphalt concrete material at different temperatures and loading times. The mix design of asphalt concrete is performed in the laboratory and material in the field is placed based on the identified mix design. To identify the quality of placed material, specimens are cored in the field and tested in the laboratory. The coring process is expensive and time consuming. To reduce the coring process and testing time, researchers have proposed the use of seismic modulus that can be measured nondestructively. The objective of this research is to assess the relationship between dynamic and seismic moduli of asphalt concrete. To achieve this objective, a dynamic modulus measurement test setup was developed. To identify the repeatability of test setup, a synthetic specimen was procured and tested. After successful evaluation of test setup, the asphalt concrete specimens were prepared and tested. The results suggested that a relationship exists between dynamic and seismic moduli of asphalt concrete mixtures and the proposed test systems can be successfully used to identify the relationship.

Subject Area

Civil engineering

Recommended Citation

Bai, Xuequn, "Assessment of relationship between dynamic and seismic moduli of asphalt concrete mixtures" (2004). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1423718.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1423718

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