Moisture Damage of Warm Mix Asphalt Concrete

Abstract

Implementation of Warm Mix Asphalt concrete (WMA) is getting global acceptance due to the restrictions for protecting the environment and the requirements to reduce fuel consumption. In this investigation, two WMA mixtures have been prepared in the laboratory using medium curing cutback (MC-30) and Cationic emulsion asphalt. Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) was also prepared for comparison. The cylinder specimens (63.5mm) in height and (101.6mm) in diameter were constructed from the mixtures and subjected to indirect tensile strength test to determine the Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR). The cylinder specimens of (101.6mm) in height and (101.6mm) in diameter were also constructed from those mixtures and subjected to static compressive strength test to determine the Index of Retained Strength (IRS). It was concluded that the WMA are more prone to moisture damage than HMA, the TSR are (92 and 86) % for (emulsion and cutback) WMA respectively, both are lower than of HMA by (2.13 and 8.51) % respectively. As the asphalt content increases, the TSR also increases and reached to peak value of Optimum Asphalt Content (OAC) then decreases. The WMA has less IRS than HMA, the IRS are 70% and 78% for the WMA-emulsified asphalt and HMA respectively.