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Coarse Aggregate Angularity and HMA Rutting

This study investigated the effects of coarse aggregate angularity and asphalt binder type on the permanent deformation properties of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. Coarse aggregates with five different angularity levels were used to produce mixtures, which were then tested with three different asphalt binders. Laboratory tests showed that at temperatures near the binder's upper grade limit, aggregate structure played a critical role in rut resistance, while at lower temperatures the binder stiffness was more important. Coarse aggregate imaging and void tests were found to relate to angularity and rutting performance. The results provide insights into how aggregate shape and binder properties influence the rutting characteristics of HMA mixtures.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
76 views10 pages

Coarse Aggregate Angularity and HMA Rutting

This study investigated the effects of coarse aggregate angularity and asphalt binder type on the permanent deformation properties of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. Coarse aggregates with five different angularity levels were used to produce mixtures, which were then tested with three different asphalt binders. Laboratory tests showed that at temperatures near the binder's upper grade limit, aggregate structure played a critical role in rut resistance, while at lower temperatures the binder stiffness was more important. Coarse aggregate imaging and void tests were found to relate to angularity and rutting performance. The results provide insights into how aggregate shape and binder properties influence the rutting characteristics of HMA mixtures.

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Nilasari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

International Journal of Pavement Engineering

Vol. 10, No. 1, February 2009, 19–28

Effects of coarse aggregate angularity and asphalt binder on laboratory-measured permanent


deformation properties of HMA
Baoshan Huanga*, Xingwei Chenb1, Xiang Shua2, Eyad Masadc3 and Enad Mahmoudd4
a
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; bLouisiana Transportation Research
Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; cDepartment of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station,
TX, USA; dZachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX, USA
( Received 7 December 2007; final version received 10 February 2008 )

Rutting has been identified as one of the primary distresses in asphalt pavements. Rutting in hot-mix asphalt (HMA)
mixtures can be attributed to either the lack of interlocking of aggregate structure or insufficient bonding between aggregate
and asphalt binder, or both. In the present study, efforts have been made to identify the contributions of aggregate structure
Downloaded by [University of Tennessee, Knoxville] at 04:28 13 June 2014

and asphalt binder to the rutting characteristics of a dense-graded surface HMA mixture. Coarse gravels at five different
angularity levels (100, 85, 70, 50 and 35% of aggregate with two or more fractured surfaces) were used to produce mixtures
with similar aggregate gradations. Three different asphalt binders (PG 64-22, PG 76-22 and PG 82-22) were used to make
mixtures for laboratory rut evaluations. The aggregate imaging system (AIMS), uncompacted voids in coarse aggregate
(VCA) and tri-axial shear tests were conducted to evaluate the coarse aggregate angularity (CAA). The US Army Corps of
Engineers’ gyratory testing machine (GTM), creep and the asphalt pavement analyser (APA) tests were selected to
characterise the rut resistance of asphalt mixtures.
The results from this study indicated that coarse aggregate AIMS, VCA and tri-axial tests were related to the CAA and
laboratory-measured rutting indices. At temperatures close to the binder’s upper grade limit, aggregate structures played a
critical role in the rut resistance of HMA mixtures; whereas, at temperatures below the binder’s upper grade limit, the stiffness
of the asphalt binder played a more important role in the rut resistance of asphalt mixtures evaluated in this study.
Keywords: CAA; asphalt binder; permanent deformation; asphalt concrete

1. Introduction that increased coarse aggregate fractured faces would


Rutting is one of the primary distresses in hot-mix asphalt increase rutting resistance (Prowell et al. 2005).
(HMA) pavements. In a well-designed HMA mixture, Image analysis-based aggregate morphology assess-
aggregate should be well-proportioned to develop a stable ment has been the focus of recent research efforts to
skeleton and provide enough resistance against shearing successfully link imaging-based indices to results from
manual testing methods as well as to pavement response
load. An optimised gradation usually ensures enough
and performance (Masad and Button 2000, Tutumluer
contacts between coarse and fine aggregates. In addition,
et al. 2000, Masad 2003). Shape properties of aggregate
the shapes and surface textures of aggregate (both coarse
samples measured by image analysis have been
and fine) intimately influence the shear resistance of
associated to laboratory strength data and field rutting
aggregate structure. HMA mixtures containing angular and performances of HMA (Rao et al. 2001, 2002, Masad
rough aggregates have been believed to be more rut- et al. 2005, Pan et al. 2005).
resistant (Meier and Elnicky 1989, Brown et al. 1992, Previous researches have studied the effect of coarse
Fletcher et al. 2002, Prowell et al. 2005). During the aggregate morphology on the performance of HMA
development of the Superpave mix design procedure, the (Huang and Ebrahimzadeh 1972, Kuo and Freeman 1998,
Strategic Highway Research Program researchers estab- Chen et al. 2001, Fletcher et al. 2002, Pan et al. 2005,
lished the minimum coarse aggregate angularity (CAA) 2006). Shu et al. (2006) investigated the characterisation
requirements for asphalt mixtures according to the traffic methods of CAA of gravel by direct shear test and
levels and proximities of the mixtures to the pavement resilient modulus test, and related CAA level to the rutting
surface. The results from the National Cooperative performance of HMA by asphalt pavement analyser
Highway Research Program 9– 35 report also indicated (APA) test. It appears that coarse aggregate direct shear

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]


ISSN 1029-8436 print/ISSN 1477-268X online
q 2009 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/10298430802068915
http://www.informaworld.com
20 B. Huang et al.

Table 1. Test factorials.

Material Coarse aggregate test Mixture performance test


Aggregate CAA (%) AIMS VCA Tri-axial test Asphalt binder Asphalt content (%) GTM test Creep test APA test
35 Yes Yes Yes PG 64-22 5.8 Yes Yes Yes
PG 76-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
PG 82-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
50 Yes Yes Yes PG 64-22 5.8 Yes Yes Yes
PG 76-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
PG 82-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
Gravel 70 Yes Yes Yes PG 64-22 5.8 Yes Yes Yes
PG76-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
PG 82-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
85 Yes Yes Yes PG 64-22 5.8 Yes Yes Yes
PG 76-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
PG 82-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
100 Yes Yes Yes PG 64-22 5.8 Yes Yes Yes
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PG 76-22 5.8 / Yes Yes


PG 82-22 5.8 / Yes Yes
Note: CAA is the coarse aggregate angularity; AIMS is the aggregate imaging system; VCA is the uncompacted void content of coarse aggregate test; GTM is the gyratory
testing machine; APA is the asphalt pavement analyser; ‘/’ indicates that testing was not conducted.

test and resilient modulus are not effective in the of asphalt mixtures. A list of the laboratory experiment
evaluation of CAA. plan is presented in Table 1.

2. Objective 3.1 Materials


In order to better specify the crushed gravels that are The coarse aggregates used in this study were gravel with
widely used for HMA mixtures in Tennessee, research has nominal maximum size of 12.5 mm. The fine aggregates
been conducted to identify the contributions of aggregate consisted of no. 10 screenings and clean natural sand. The
structures and asphalt binder to the rutting characteristics gradation of the blended aggregates is shown in Figure 1.
of a dense-graded surface HMA mixture, and to correlate Three types of asphalt binder, a conventional PG64-22,
coarse aggregate tests (such as the aggregate imaging two SBS polymer modified PG 76-22 and PG 82-22 were
system (AIMS), uncompacted voids in coarse aggregate used in this study. Their properties meet the Superpave PG
(VCA) and tri-axial tests) with HMA rutting performance binder requirements.
tests (such as gyratory testing machine (GTM), creep and
APA tests).
Coarse gravels at five different angularity levels and
three different asphalt binders were used to make mixtures 3.2 Aggregate imaging test
for laboratory rut evaluation. The coarse aggregate characteristics (sieve #4-sieve 5/8 in.)
were evaluated using image analysis techniques through the
AIMS system (Figure 2; Masad 2003). AIMS is a computer
3. Laboratory experiment automated system that includes a lighting table where
A laboratory experiment was conducted to characterise
the rut resistance of a dense-graded surface HMA
mixture. Coarse gravels at five different angularity levels
(100, 85, 70, 50 and 35% of aggregate with two or more
fractured surfaces) were used to produce mixtures with
similar aggregate gradations. Three different asphalt
binders (PG 64-22, PG 76-22 and PG 82-22) were used
to make mixtures for laboratory rut evaluations.
The aggregate imaging system (AIMS), VCA and Tri-
axial shear test were considered to evaluate the CAA. The
US Army Corps of Engineers’ GTM was employed to
evaluate the aggregate structures. Creep and APA tests
were selected to characterise the overall rut resistance Figure 1. Aggregate gradation.
International Journal of Pavement Engineering 21

aggregate was enwrapped with membrane, and moulded


with vacuum in a 100 mm diameter and 200 mm height
mould. The confining pressures were 69, 138 and 207 kPa.
The shearing rate was selected as 25.4 mm/min. The
shearing force and vertical displacements were continu-
ously recorded while the aggregate material was sheared.
The Mohr –Coulomb shear strength of coarse aggre-
gate can be expressed as

s ¼ c þ s tan f ð2Þ

where s ¼ shear stress at failure; c ¼ cohesive strength;


s ¼ normal stress; and f ¼ angle of internal friction.
A higher friction angle value always indicates higher
shear strength, and the aggregate structure will have higher
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Figure 2. A picture of the AIMS system.


rut-resistance.
aggregates are placed in order to measure their physical
characteristics (form, angularity and texture). It is equipped 3.5 HMA mixture design
with an autofocus microscope and a digital camera, and is
capable of analysing the characteristics of aggregate sizes Standard Marshall mix design procedure was employed to
retained on sieve #100 (0.15 mm sieve) up to aggregates design the asphalt mixture. The mixture satisfied the ‘411-
retained on 1 in. sieve (25.4 mm). D’ mix as specified by the Tennessee Department of
AIMS evaluate aggregate characteristics in terms of Transportation (TDOT 2006). In order to compare the
form, angularity and texture (Masad 2003). Many ways to performance of mixture with different CAA levels under
calculate the aggregate shape parameters have been the same conditions as much as possible, the same asphalt
proposed by various researchers (Masad and Button 2000, content of 5.8% was adopted as optimum asphalt content
Tutumluer et al. 2000, Rao et al. 2001, 2002, Masad 2003, for each CAA level. Besides, two other asphalt content
Pan et al. 2005). This study focused on aggregate levels (4.9 and 4.0%) were also used in GTM test to
angularity and it can be calculated as follows using the evaluate the effect of asphalt content on the aggregate
gradient method (Masad 2003). structure of HMA mixtures.

X
N 23
Angularity index ¼ jui 2 uiþ3 j ð1Þ 3.6 GTM test
i
The GTM has been used for decades as an engineering tool
for the design and characterisation of both bound and
where N is the total number of points on the edge of the
unbound paving materials. The device was developed and
particle with the subscript i denoting the ith point on the
refined in the 1960s as a mechanisation of the original
edge of the particle.
Texas gyratory compactor, and is intended to serve as a
combination compaction and shear testing machine.
Samples are subjected to compaction effort using a
3.3 Uncompacted voids in coarse aggregate test
rotating head that must maintain a minimum angle via two
The VCA are measured using a calibrated cylindrical adjustable rollers positioned on opposite sides of the
measure. The coarse aggregate is struck off, and its mass is cylindrical test specimen (Prowell 2003).
determined by weighing. VCA can be calculated as the Three 150 mm diameter samples of each mixture were
difference between the volume of the cylindrical measure compacted under a 0.84 MPa vertical ram pressure in the
and the absolute volume of the coarse aggregate collected GTM. The mixture samples were compacted at 1508C
in the measurement. VCA provides an indication of the with 185 revolutions. The following parameters from
aggregate’s angularity, sphericity and surface texture GTM test were investigated in this study (Kuo and
(AASHTO 2003). Freeman 1998).
Gyratory stability index (GSI) is the ratio of the
maximum gyratory angle to the minimum gyratory
3.4 Coarse aggregate tri-axial shear test angle. For a rut-resistant mixture, the shear resistance
The coarse aggregate tri-axial test for coarse aggregate from the aggregate structure will prevent the tilting trend
was conducted in a tri-axial chamber. The coarse from the ram head as the mixture is being compacted.
22 B. Huang et al.

Therefore, a lower GSI value always indicates higher Table 2. AIMS test results of coarse aggregate.
stability (or rut-resistance) for the mixture.
Sample 12.5 mm 9.5 mm 4.75 mm Average
Sphericity index
3.7 Creep test CAA – 35 0.647 0.694 0.688 0.676
CAA – 50 0.699 0.720 0.694 0.704
The creep test was used to evaluate the rutting potential of CAA – 70 – 0.718 0.660 0.689
asphalt mixtures. This test is conducted by applying a CAA – 85 0.672 0.723 0.676 0.690
static load to an HMA specimen and measuring the CAA – 100 0.666 0.742 0.651 0.686
resulting total and permanent deformation with time. Texture index
In this study, the static unconfined creep test was CAA – 35 72.0 86.1 68.6 75.6
performed. The test temperature was 408C (close to the CAA – 50 60.8 82.6 72.4 71.9
pavement effective temperature), and applied pressure was CAA – 70 78.4 71.9 70.6 73.7
CAA – 85 82.6 90.5 71.6 81.6
69 kPa. The static load was applied for 1 h, and the load CAA – 100 64.7 76.0 72.7 71.1
was removed and the sample was allowed to rebound for
Angularity index
another hour. The permanent strain is the total strain minus CAA – 35 2547 2713 2658 2639
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the recoverable strain. The total strain is related to the CAA – 50 2483 2582 2669 2578
creep stiffness; whereas, the permanent strain is more CAA – 70 2875 2520 3080 2825
closely related to permanent deformation properties of CAA – 85 2855 2844 2954 2884
asphalt mixtures. CAA – 100 3122 2947 3312 3127
Cylindrical samples, 150 mm in diameter and 170 mm
in height were compacted by the superpave gyratory
compactor. A nominal 101.6 mm diameter specimen was Fletcher et al. (2002), crushing of most gravel does not
cored from the centre of the gyratory specimens. The two improve texture which is consistent with the results in
ends of the specimen were trimmed to get a 150 mm height Table 2. The angularity index shows a clear trend on an
specimen. Three samples were made for each mixture. The increase in angularity with more crushing. The sphericity
air voids of 7% was used for this test. indices for the five aggregates are similar. The analysis
will focus on the angularity index as it is the only property
that shows differences among the coarse aggregate
3.8 APA test samples.
Figure 3 presents the relationship between angularity
In the present study, the 150-mm diameter by 75-mm height
index of coarse aggregate and CAA level. Generally, an
laboratory compacted cylindrical specimens were tested, at
increase in CAA levels resulted in increased angularity
648C, 444.4 N load and 0.7 MPa hose pressure (as per
index.
AASHTO TP63-03). The air voids for the APA test was
selected to be 7 ^ 1%. Six samples were made for each
mixture. Rut depth versus loading cycle curves and final rut
4.1.2 VCA test
depth after 8000 cycles (16,000 passes) under dry
conditions were recorded. The wheel speed was approxi- Figure 4 presents the VCA with different CAA levels.
mately 0.6 m/s. Although not significant (VCA ranged from 43.3 to 44%),
the CAA had obvious effects on the VCA. Coarse
aggregate with higher CAA level has higher VCA. This
4. Results and discussions indicated the coarse aggregate with higher CAA level was
4.1 Aggregate tests
4.1.1 AIMS test
The coarse aggregate were composed of three aggregate
sizes; retained on 12.5, 9.5 and the 4.75 mm sieve.
The ratio of weight of these three sizes of aggregate is
11:44.5:44.5. Each size was scanned separately using
AIMS. Table 2 provides the results (average) for
sphericity, texture and angularity.
A high angularity index indicates a higher aggregate
angularity, and a higher texture index means that the
aggregate has more texture. The values of texture index for
all the five aggregates are considered within the low range,
that is, the aggregates are not highly textured. As shown by Figure 3. CAA level versus angularity index.
International Journal of Pavement Engineering 23

Figure 4. VCA at different CAA levels. Figure 6. GSI of HMA mixtures from GTM.

4.2 Mixture tests


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easier to form interlock structure. The VCA of coarse


aggregate with 35 and 50% CAA exhibited lower VCA 4.2.1 GTM test
than that of other coarse aggregates. Figure 6 presents the GSI of HMA with different CAA
levels. From the results, it was obvious that CAA had
significant effects on the GSI. The GSI value generally
decreased with the increase in the CAA level, which
4.1.3 Coarse aggregate tri-axial test meant the stability of HMA mixtures would also be
Theoretically, the shear resistance of aggregate structure increased with the increase in the angularity of coarse
should be reflected by the friction angle of compacted aggregate. Usually, GSI values less than 1.2 are
aggregates. Since a previous study indicated a poor considered to be rut resistant for HMA mixtures
relationship between the direct shear friction angle and (Mohammad et al. 1999). It was noted that all mixtures
the HMA rutting property, efforts were made during the (with different CAA) with 5.8% asphalt content had GSI
present study to employ triaxial shear testing in order to values higher than 1.2. This indicated that these mixtures
eliminate the effect of complex boundary conditions (although satisfying the current specification with other
existing in direct shear. Figure 5 presents the triaxial
friction angle of coarse aggregate with different CAA
levels. From the results, it appears that the friction angle
was not sensitive to CAA levels between 50 and 100%.
Coarse aggregate with higher CAA level generally had
higher friction angle value. The friction angle of coarse
aggregate with 35% CAA exhibited much lower friction
angle value than other coarse aggregates. The friction
angles of coarse aggregate with 50 and 70% were
relatively lower than that of coarse aggregate with 85
and 100%.

Figure 5. Friction angle of coarse aggregate with different CAA Figure 7. Static unconfined creep test. (a) total strain vs. CAA
levels. and (b) permanent strain vs. CAA.
24 B. Huang et al.

results, it is observed that both CAA and asphalt binder


property had significant effects on total strain and permanent
strain. For HMA with PG 64-22 binder, the strain generally
decreased with the increase in CAA level. HMA with 100%
crushed coarse aggregate only exhibited about half the strain
of HMA with 35% CAA coarse aggregate, which indicated
that increasing the CAA level of coarse aggregate would
result in the high resistance of HMA mixtures to rutting.
When a stiffer asphalt binder (PG 76-22) was used, the results
showed a similar trend: the strain generally decreased with
the increase in the angularity of the coarse aggregate, while
the strain exhibited was lower than that of HMA with PG 64-
22. When a much stiffer asphalt binder (PG 82-22) was used,
Figure 8. APA rut depths of HMA mixtures. the total strain generally decreased with the increase in CAA
level. However, the permanent strain of HMA mixture with
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criteria) might be ‘too wet’ if designed with gyratory different CAA levels did not show significant difference. All
compactors. the permanent strains were within the range of 150–300
micro strain.

4.2.2 Creep test 4.2.3 APA rut test


Figure 7 presents the results of the HMA creep test with Figure 8 presents the APA rut test results of HMA with
different CAA levels and different asphalt binders. From the different CAA levels and different asphalt binders. From

Figure 9. Correlation between coarse aggregate AIMS angularity index and HMA rutting performance tests. (a) rut depth vs. angularity
index and (b) permanent strain vs. angularity index.
International Journal of Pavement Engineering 25
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Figure 10. Correlation between coarse aggregate friction angle and HMA performance tests. (a) rut depth vs. friction angle and (b)
permanent strain vs. friction angle.

the results, both CAA and asphalt binder property had properties from APA and creep tests. In Figure 9(a) and
significant effects on rutting. For HMA with PG 64-22 (b), the slopes of the regression lines are negative with
binder, the rut depth generally decreased with the increase three different asphalt binders (PG 64-22, PG 76-22 and
in CAA level. HMA with 100% crushed coarse aggregate PG 82-22), which indicates that increase in angularity
only exhibited about half the rut of HMA with 35% CAA index results in decrease in APA rut depth and creep
coarse aggregate, which indicated that increasing the CAA permanent strain. The absolute value of the slope
level of coarse aggregate would result in the high resistance decreases as the asphalt binder becomes stiffer which
of HMA mixtures to rutting. When a stiffer asphalt binder means HMA with stiffer asphalt binder is less sensitive to
(PG 76-22) was used, the results showed a similar trend. the variation of angularity levels.
The rut depth generally decreased with the increase in the Figure 10 presents the correlation between the coarse
angularity of the coarse aggregate. The rut depth exhibited aggregate tri-axial friction angle and HMA mixture
only about half the rut of HMA with PG 64-22. However, properties from APA and creep tests. The slopes of the
when a much stiffer asphalt binder (PG 82-22) was used, trend lines are also negative with three different asphalt
HMA mixture with different CAA levels did not show binders (PG 64-22, PG 76-22 and PG 82-22), which
significant difference in rut depth. All the rut depths were indicates that an increase in friction angle results in the
within the range of 2– 3 mm. decrease in APA rut depth and creep permanent strain.
The absolute value of the slope decreases as the asphalt
binder becomes stiffer which means HMA with stiffer
4.3 Effects of aggregate test and GTM on rutting asphalt binder is less sensitive to the variety of friction
performance tests angle.
Figure 9 presents the correlation between the coarse Figure 11 presents the correlation between VCA and
aggregate AIMS angularity index and HMA mixture APA rut depth and permanent strain from the creep test.
26 B. Huang et al.
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Figure 11. Correlation between VCA and HMA performance test. (a) VCA vs. rut depth and (b) VCA vs. permanent strain.

Similarly, in Figure 11 (a) and (b), the slopes of the trend 4.4 Effectiveness of aggregate properties to rutting
lines are negative with three different asphalt binders (PG indices
64-22, PG 76-22 and PG 82-22) too, which indicates that From the above analyses, it appears that all coarse
increase in VCA results in decrease in APA rut depth and aggregate tests were to various degrees related to
creep permanent strain. The absolute value of the slope laboratory-measured rutting characteristics of asphalt
decreases as the asphalt binder becomes stiffer which mixtures. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of each
means HMA with stiffer asphalt binder is less sensitive to coarse aggregate property on characterising rutting,
the variety of VCA. normalisations were made to each aggregate property
These results indicate that the coarse aggregate tests versus APA rut depth and creep permanent strain. Since
(such as AIMS, tri-axial and VCA) and HMA rutting mixtures with PG 64-22 had the least influence of asphalt
performance tests (such as GTM, creep and APA) are binder, only these mixtures were selected for analyses.
intimately related. Figure 13(a) gives an example of the normalisation for
Figure 12 presents the correlation between GSI and creep permanent strain versus GSI. The maximum values of
APA rut depth and creep permanent strain. The slopes of both GSI and permanent strain were assigned as 1, and the
the regression lines of GSI versus rut depth, total strain and minimum as 0. The slope of the normalised permanent
permanent strain are positive with three different asphalt strain against the normalised GSI provided a relative
binders (PG 64-22, PG 76-22 and PG 82-22), which effectiveness of utilising the GSI to characterise the
indicates that increase in GSI results in increase in APA rut permanent strain from static creep.
depth, creep total strain and creep permanent strain. The Consequently, the normalised ‘effectiveness slope’ of
value of the slope decreases as the asphalt binder becomes each aggregate properties versus both APA rut
stiffer which means HMA with stiffer asphalt binder is less depth and creep permanent strain are illustrated in
sensitive to the variety GSI. Figure 13(b). It appears that the CAA was most ‘effective’
International Journal of Pavement Engineering 27
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Figure 12. Correlation between GSI with APA and creep test. (a) rut depth vs. GSI and (b) permanent strain vs. GSI.

in characterising creep permanent strain; whereas the


angularity index as measured from the AIMS was most
‘effective’ in characterising the APA rut depth. It should be
noted that although GSI is obtained from the GTM
(a mixture testing), here we compare it along with other
aggregate properties in that the GSI mainly reflects
aggregate structures given fixed asphalt binder content.

5. Summary and conclusions


A study has been conducted to evaluate the contributions of
aggregate structure and asphalt binder to the laboratory
rutting characteristics of a dense-graded HMA mixture.
Based on the laboratory experiments and analyses, the
following can be summarised and concluded:
(1) The AIMS, VCA and tri-axial tests can be
used to characterise the angularities of coarse
aggregates.
(2) Creep and APA tests generally provided consistent
ranking in evaluating the rutting performance of
HMA mixtures.
Figure 13. Correlation between GSI with APA and creep test (3) Aggregate structure and binder stiffness had
(normalised). (a) normalisation example and (b) effectiveness of significant effects on the rutting performance of
aggregate properties to rutting indices. HMA.
28 B. Huang et al.

(4) CAA had significant effect on the laboratory Fletcher, T., et al., 2002. Measurement of aggregate texture and its
influence on hot mix asphalt (HMA) permanent deformation.
rutting performance of HMA mixtures when a soft
Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 30 (6), 524– 531.
binder was used. Huang, E.Y. and Ebrahimzadeh, T., 1972. Laboratory investigation of the
(5) Use of relatively hard asphalt binder could also effect of particle shape characteristics and gradation of aggregates
lead to high rut-resistance HMA mixture and may on the skid resistance of asphalt surface mixtures, ASTM Special
Technical Publication, STP 530, pp. 117–137.
‘compensate’ for the relatively low aggregate Kuo, C.-Y. and Freeman, R.B., 1998. Image analysis evaluation of
angularity. aggregates for asphalt concrete mixtures. Transportation Research
(6) The traditional CAA had the strongest correlation Record, (1615), 65–71.
Masad, E., 2003. The development of a computer controlled image
with the laboratory static creep permanent strain; analysis system for measuring aggregate shape properties. NCHRP-
(7) The angularity index as measured by the AIMS IDEA Project 77 Final Report, Washington, DC: Transportation
had the strongest correlation with the APA rut Research Board.
Masad, E. and Button, J.W., 2000. Unified imaging approach for
depth; measuring aggregate angularity and texture. Computer Aided Civil
(8) The relationships between coarse aggregate Infrastructure Engineering, 15 (4), 273–280.
properties and HMA rut resistance can be used Masad, E., et al., 2005. Viscoplastic modeling of asphalt mixes with the
to develop specifications for the selection of effects of anisotropy, damage and aggregate characteristics.
Mechanics of Materials, 37 (12), 1242– 1256.
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aggregates that would improve the mixture Meier, W.R. Jr. and Elnicky, E.J., 1989. Laboratory evaluation of shape
performance. and surface texture of fine aggregate for asphalt concrete.
Transportation Research Record, 1250, 25 –34.
Mohammad, L., et al., 1999. Laboratory performance evaluation SMA,
CMHB AND dense graded asphalt mixtures. Journal of the
Acknowledgements Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, 68, 252– 280.
Pan, T., Tutumluer, E. and Carpenter, S.H., 2005. Effect of coarse aggregate
The authors would like to thank the Tennessee Department of morphology on the resilient modulus of hot-mix asphalt. Transpor-
Transportation (TDOT) for providing financial support for this tation Research Record, 1929, 1–9.
study. The authors would also like to thank Mrs Laura Pan, T., Tutumluer, E. and Carpenter, S.H., 2006. Effect of coarse
Vukosavljevic, Mr James Bass and many others who have aggregate morphology on permanent deformation behavior of hot
provided great help during this experimental study. mix asphalt. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 132 (7),
580– 589.
Prowell, B.D., 2003. Laboratory performance testing for the NCAT
pavement test track, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
Notes CD-ROM.
Prowell, B.D., Zhang, J. and Brown, E.R., 2005. Aggregate properties
1. Email: [email protected] and the performance of superpave designed hot mix asphalt.
2. Email: [email protected] National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 539,
3. Email: [email protected] Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
4. Email: [email protected] Rao, C., Tutumluer, E. and Stefanski, J.A., 2001. Flat and elongated ratios
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