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Durability and Performance Characteristics of Warm asphalt mixes

Article · April 2016

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Ambika Behl Satish Chandra

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 Paper No.654

Durability and Performance

Characteristics of Warm Asphalt Mixes
by
Ambika Behl (LM 36892), Satish Chandra (LM 13961), & [Link] (LM 22947)

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) was developed with the objective of reducing the CO2 emissions in the production and
placement process of hot mix asphalt (HMA) by reducing the temperature at which the bituminous mix is produced
and compacted. However this reduction must not affect the final performance of the mixture. This paper evaluates
the moisture susceptibility, permanent deformation and resilient modulus of warm mix asphalt through laboratory
tests. The WMA mixtures were produced using three different additives; Sasobit®, Evotherm™ and Rediset™ with
two types of bituminous binders; viscosity grading bitumen VG30 and polymer modified bitumen PMB40.
Laboratory performance tests included Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) test, Moisture Induced Sensitivity testing
(MIST) Test, Resilient Modulus test and Dynamic Creep test. These tests were carried out on freshly made Marshall
specimens and also on samples aged in oven for 120 h at 85°C to see the effect of aging on the performance of
mixes. For the purpose of comparing the results, control specimens of HMA were also prepared. The results
indicate that WMA mixes exhibit higher moisture resistance, higher resilient modulus and the lower permanent
deformation when compared with control mixes. Aged WMA mixes also showed better moisture resistance and
better resilient modulus but the permanent deformations in the aged WMA mixes were just comparable to those in
the control mixes.

Introduction
Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) mix with the same strength, follows the existing HMA
is an emerging technology for durability and performance Superpave standards and
constructing the asphalt characteristics as HMA with a procedure, temperature
pavements. With the reduced production becomes the key point which
advancement of technology, temperature (Bonaquist, differentiates these two
WMA have gained 2011). It is due to the rising technologies. During the
considerable importance from energy cost and increased production of WMA,
environmental point of view, environmental awareness that aggregates and bitumen are
due to the reduction of have brought attention to the not heated up to as high a
o
temperature for about 30 C potential benefits of WMA temperature as it is used for
than what is actually required binder (Khan & Chandra, HMA (Xu, 2011). Under these
for the production of normal Hot 2012). As WMA construction circumstances some residual
Mix Asphalt (HMA) thus
reducing the fuel cost (Behl et
al., 2011). The concept of WMA
was introduced in late 1990’s in
Europe. After that a number of
WMA processes have been
Ambika Behl Satish Chandra [Link]
developed in Europe and the Scientist, CSIR Professor, Director,CSIR
United States (Mallick et al. Central Road Research Department of Civil Central Road
Institute, Engineering, Research Institute,
2007, Prowell et al. 2007). New Delhi, India Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India,
The ultimate objective of this (corresponding author) Roorkee, Uttrakhand, [Link]@[Link]
[Link]@[Link] India 247667
technology was to prepare a satisfce@[Link]

Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016 323

moisture would probably aspect of Warm asphalt mixes Materials and Experim-
remain trapped inside the mix by simulating insufficient drying ental Procedures
and thus this could cause the of aggregates during WMA
Two asphalt binders, VG-30
loss of adhesion between the production; they have used
(Viscosity Grade) and PMB-40
asphalt binder and the Sasobit® as a WMA additive
(Polymer modified bitumen) were
aggregate. Therefore, moisture (Gong et al. 2012). The
selected in the study. The
susceptibility has been a objective of this research is to
bituminous concrete (BC) mix
primary concern for some WMA carry out a comprehensive
was designed for 13 mm nominal
approaches. This is because at evaluation of moisture
size aggregate gradation as per
lower temperatures, the susceptibility for three WMA
Indian Specifications (MORTH
process of mixing and additives namely Evotherm™,
2001) as given in Table 1. The
compaction could result in Rediset™ and Sasobit® with
aggregate were collected from a
incomplete drying of the regards to their fundamental
local stone crusher and were
aggregate (Xu, 2011 Gong et characteristics such as tensile
suitable for use in BC mix as per
al. 2012). In the past, a number strength ratio, resilient modulus
Indian Specifications. Three
of researchers have evaluated and dynamic creep. The effect
warm mix additives namely
various WMA mixtures using of mixture aging on the
Sasobit®, Evotherm™ and
certain testing protocols in the performance properties of the
Rediset™ were used to prepare
laboratory (Crews et al. 2012; bituminous mix (both WMA and
warm mix binders. Each additive
Caro et al. 2012; Chowdhury & HMA) is also evaluated. The
was mixed in required doses by
Button 2008). However the moisture susceptibility in aged
weight of the bitumen with each
aspect of moisture mixes was evaluated by
artificially ageing the samples asphalt binder. To prepare a
susceptibility of WMA mixes
o warm mix binder, the binder was
using the WMA additives has in the oven for 120 h at 85 C
o heated up to a temperature of
remained a concern for this (185 F). The aged samples
140 - 150°C and required dose of
emerging technology. Some were then tested for all the
additive was added and mixed
researchers have investigated above given performance
for 15
the moisture susceptibility related properties.

TABLE 1 Aggregate Gradation for Bituminous Concrete

Recommended Range Grading adopted

IS Sieve Size
(MoRTH-2001) (% Passing)
(mm)
Cumulative % by weight of total aggregate passing
26.5 100 100
13.2 79-100 90
9.5 70-88 79
4.75 53-71 62
2.36 42-58 50
1.18 34-48 41
0.600 26-38 32
0.300 18-28 23
0.150 12-20 16
0.075( Filler) 4-10 7

324 Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016

minute with high shear mixer. binder content) for VG-30 and were immersed in water bath at
o
The determination of PMB-40 was 5.1 % and 5.2 % 60 C for 24 h and afterwards
o
optimum dose of the additive by weight of mix respectively. kept at 25 C for 2 h.
and the optimum mixing For each performance test The MIST method provides
temperatures was based on three replicate marshall an accelerated conditioning of
laboratory tests conducted in specimens were prepared the specimen under cyclic
the first stage of this research. and tested, and average loading by simulating the action
It involved preparation of values of the results have of traffic on wet pavement.
Marshall Specimens at different
been reported.
When a tire rolls over wet
doses of an additive and at Performance Tests pavement, the water caught
various temperatures ranging between the tire and the
Moisture Susceptibility
from 100°C to 150°C. These pavement is subjected to high
Tests
Marshall specimens were pressure. This forces the water
tested for Marshall Stability, The moisture susceptibility into the accessible pores.
retained stability, air voids and of the bituminous concrete When the tire rolls away from
bulk density. The dose and the mixes with warm mix additives that region, the pressure is
temperature at which WMA was evaluated by measuring reduced and water drains or is
specimens gave similar values the tensile strength ratio (TSR) pulled from the pores back to
as HMA were selected as the as per ASTM: D 6931-12 and the surface of the asphalt. The
optimum dose of additive and by conducting Moisture MIST equipment replicates this
the optimum mix temperature Induced Sensitivity Test (MIST) condition by cyclically applying
for two types of binders. Table as per ASTM: D 7870 and removing high pressure
2 shows results of this part of – 13. The indirect tensile from unsaturated compacted
investigation. Control samples strength (ITS) of the mix is samples. To further accelerate
of HMA were made at 155- determined before and after the potential damage to the
160ºC for VG30 binder and conditioning of Marshall core, the test is performed at
170-175ºC for PMB40 binder. specimens and the tensile elevated temperature of 60°C.
strength ratio (TSR) is then The test was conducted for
Mix Design
calculated as the ratio of original 3500 cycles at 40 psi and 60°C.
The Marshall method of strength and retained strength The MIST conditioned
mix design was employed to after accelerated moisture specimens were then tested for
design the mixture for conditioning. The air voids in all ITS and TSR was calculated.
bituminous concrete. The mix these tests were maintained at 7
was designed for 5 percent air ± 1 %. For conditioning of the
voids and the OBC (optimum
Resilient Modulus Test
Marshall specimens, these

TABLE 2 Optimum additive dose and mixing temperatures

Binder Additive Dosage, % by weight of binder Mix temperature, °C
Evotherm™ 1.0 135
PMB-40 Rediset™ 3.0 135
Sasobit® 3.0 135
Evotherm™ 0.5 115
VG-30 Rediset™ 3.0 115
Sasobit® 3.0 105

Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016 325

 Resilient Modulus also performed on Marshall prepared using Marshall
known as Indirect Tensile specimens prepared using Compactor at 5% and 7% air
Stiffness Modulus (ITSM) is an different binders and warm mix voids and placed in the oven
important parameter to additives. The test was maintained at 85°C for five
evaluate performance of a mix performed on Universal Testing days. The oven is turned off
and to assess the pavement Machine at a temperature of after the curing period and
response to traffic loading. The 40°C. Specimens were placed samples are removed from
test is conducted through in the temperature control the oven when they were
repetitive applications of cabinet for two hours to cooled to room temperature.
compressive loads in a increase the core temperature The aged samples are then
haversine waveform using of the specimen to the test tested for above explained
Universal Testing Machine. The temperature. A seating stress performance parameters and
compressive load is applied of 11 kPa was applied on the the values of warm mix aged
along a vertical diametric plane specimen to ensure a positive samples are compared with
of the cylindrical specimen of contact between the loading those of control mix aged
the mix and the resulting plate and the specimen. The samples.
horizontal and vertical test was conducted as per
Results and Discussion
deformations are measured. All NCHRP 9 – 19 (report 465). A
the specimens for resilient cyclic stress of 69 kPa, having For the ease of reporting
modulus test were made at 5% a haversine waveform with and discussing the results the
air voids. The specimens were loading period of 0.1 s followed different types of mixes are
tested at 25ºC and 45ºC in by a rest period of 0.9 s, was given identification codes
accordance with ASTM: D7369 applied during the test and total based on the type of binder
– 11 after their conditioning at accumulated strain (%) was and type of additive. These
the selected test temperature recorded. The test was are shown in Table 3. The first
for 6 h. Repeated haversine performed for 3600 cycles. letter in the last column of this
load with a load time of 0.1 s table denotes the type of
Ageing of Warm Mix binder (PMB-40 or VG-30)
and a rest period of 0.9 s was
Asphalt and the second letter denotes
used in all resilient modulus
tests. This procedure of mixture the type of additive.
conditioning was carried out as Indirect Tensile Strength
Dynamic Creep Test
per AASHTO: R 30 – 2. In this
Dynamic creep test was procedure, the samples are Table 4 presents the results

TABLE 3 Identification of different Mixes

Type of binder Type of additive Mix Identification (ID)

PMB 40 No additive (Plain) PP
PMB 40 Evotherm™ PE
PMB 40 Rediset™ PR
PMB 40 Sasobit® PS
VG 30 No additive (Plain) VP
VG 30 Evotherm™ VE
VG 30 Rediset™ VR
VG 30 Sasobit® VS

326 Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016

of dry and wet ITS for different aged) have better wet indirect comparable results for dry ITS,
mixes under un-aged and aged tensile strength than the control wet ITS, but the wet ITS value
conditions. The dry ITS value is mix. It suggests that the PMB of MIST conditioned samples
the maximum compressive load based warm asphalt mixes are was low in comparison to
born by a Marshall sample more resistant to moisture control mix. This shows that
before failure while the wet ITS damage. When VG30 based when exposed to excessive
is the load after soaking the warm mixes were exposed to moisture conditions in MIST
sample in water for 24 h at the MIST conditioning, the Sasobit® based warm mix
60°C. They are used to Rediset™ additive showed a asphalt cannot resist moisture
calculate the Tensile Strength better wet ITS value than the damage.
Ratio (TSR) which is a control mix, Evotherm™ Tensile Strength Ratio
measure of moisture showed comparable results but
susceptibility of asphalt mixes. the Sasobit® showed a The Tensile Strength Ratio
decrease in wet ITS value in (TSR) is used as a measure of
Table 5 presents the
comparison to control mix. The moisture susceptibility. Figures
values of wet ITS for different
low mixing temperature of 1 – 4 show the TSR values for
mixes after MIST conditioning
Sasobit® - VG-30 blend could the un-aged and aged samples
of both un-aged and aged
be the reason for this low wet with and without MIST
samples. MIST conditioning is
ITS. The optimum mixing conditioning. The un-aged
an excessive exposure of the
temperature for Sasobit® was mixes containing the warm
mix to moisture at an elevated
found to be 105°C (refer Table asphalt additives had
temperature and pressure.
2). The samples made at this significantly higher TSR values
The results given in table 5
temperature showed good and than control mixes. It shows
shows that the warm mix PMB
that the addition of the warm
samples (both un-aged and

TABLE 4 Dry and Wet ITS values of different Mixes

Type of binder Test condition Mix ID Dry ITS(kPa) Wet ITS(kPa)

PP 771 634
PE 660 573
Un-aged samples
PS 625 458
PR 595 487
PMB 40
PP 1021 757
PS 848 677
Aged Samples
PE 870 612
PR 831 632
VP 351 215
VE 248 211
Un-aged samples
VS 239 183
VR 498 354
VG 30
VP 496 291
VE 343 260
Aged Samples
VS 790 553
VR 820 479

Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016 327

asphalt additives improves the lesser TSR than the control mix. control mixes. The Evotherm™
moisture susceptibility of the Figure 1 also shows that warm gives the highest value of TSR
un-aged mixes. mixes have better TSR than among all the three additives
In the case of un-aged PMB control mix even after MIST (Figure 3 and 4). It shows that
– 40 mixes, Evotherm™ shows conditioning of the specimens. In the Evotherm blend is more
TSR value of 86% which is the case of aged mixes, resistant to moisture
more than that of the control Evotherm™ blend showed a susceptibility during the un-
mix. The Sasobit® showed greater TSR value than the aged period and also after the
aged period. The Sasobit®
TABLE 5 Wet ITS after MIST conditioning and Rediset™ have shown
TSR comparable to that of
Type of Binder Test Condition Mix ID Wet ITS(kPa)
control HMA mix. However,
PP 186
the TSR of mix type VS after
PE 372 MIST was extremely low
Un-aged
PS 259 indicating higher susceptibility
samples of Sasobit modified VG 30 to
PR 295 moisture damage during
PMB 40
PP 227 service life of the pavement.
PE 423
Aged Samples The above observations
PS 264
reveal that among the different
PR 348 mixes prepared using different
VP 86 binders and warm mix
VE 83 additives; the Evotherm™
Un-aged
VS 28 shows the least moisture
samples susceptibility. In other words,
VG 30 VR 153
Evotherm™ shows higher
VP 97 resistance to moisture damage
VE 102 just after the pavement had
Aged Samples
VS 86 been laid and also during its
VR 245 service life. This shows that the
Evotherm™ imparts anti-
stripping properties to the mix,
and this property of the additive
is reported by other researcher
also (Yu, 2012).
Resilient Modulus
Figures 5 to 8 show the
comparison of resilient modulus
of un-aged and aged mixes at
25°C and 45°C. It is found that
addition of warm mix additives
improves the stiffness modulus
of a mix substantially when
compared with control HMA
FIGURE 1 TSR of Un-aged Mixes with PMB – 40 binder

328 Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016

 mix. The WMA mixes are
produced at much lower
temperature and hence the
aggregate and bitumen are
exposed to lower temperature.
Dynamic Creep
The deformation resistance
characteristics of bituminous
mixtures were evaluated
through a dynamic creep test.
The total permanent strains in
the different mixes at 40°C are
given in Table 6. Figures 9 and
FIGURE 2 TSR of Un-aged Mixes with VG30 binder
10 show the total accumulated
strain accumulated in aged and
un-aged mixes with PMB 40
and VG 30 binders
respectively. The total
permanent strain in a mix is an
indicator of rutting and the
results plotted in these figures
show low rutting in mixes with
warm mix additives when
compared with control mixes.
The permanent strains in warm
mix with PMB are consistently
lower than those in the mixes
with VG 30. It is attributed to
the higher viscosity of PMB 40
FIGURE 3 TSR of Aged Mixes with PMB – 40 binder as increased resistance to
rutting is offered by stiffer (high
viscosity or low penetration)
binders (Roberts et al. 1996)).
Further, in the case of un-aged
samples, the control HMA
mixes showed more permanent
strains than WMA mixes. The
freshly prepared warm mixes
with both binders showed less
permanent strain in comparison
to control HMA mix. In the case
of aged samples, the WMA
mixes showed almost similar
extent
FIGURE 4 TSR of Aged Mixes with VG 30 binder

Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016 329

 of permanent strain as in the
control mixes except the
Evotherm™ modified mixes.
Evotherm™ modified warm
mixes showed higher
permanent deformation after
aging. Better stiffness and
resistance to permanent
deformation was observed in
the aged and un-aged mixes
prepared with Sasobit®.
Conclusions
5 Resilient Modulus of Un-aged and Aged Mixes with PMB 40 Two types of binders and
at 25°C
three types of warm mix
additives are used in this study
to prepare the Marshall
specimens at optimum binder
content and optimum
temperature. The two binders
are VG 30 bitumen and
polymer modified binder PMB
40, and the three additives are
Evotherm™, Rediset™ and
Sasobit®. The optimum
temperatures for these
additives were determined
based on Marshall stability, air
FIGURE 6 Resilient Modulus of Un-aged and Aged Mixes with voids and retained stability.
VG 30 at 25°C Marshall specimens were also
prepared with conventional
HMA for comparing the results.
The durability tests like tensile
strength ratio under normal test
procedure and under moisture
induced sensitivity test
procedure were conducted on
warm and hot mix specimens.
Mixture conditioning was also
done as per AASHTO: R30-2
procedure to observe the
influence of warm mix additive
on long term performance of a
mix. The resilient modulus and
dynamic creep tests were
FIGURE 7 Resilient Modulus of PMB 40 Mixes at 45°C

330 Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016

 also conducted to compare the
performance of warm mix with
that of hot mix specimens.
The results show that the
tensile strength ratio of un-aged
and aged samples made with
Evotherm™ is greater than the
TSR value of control HMA mix.
This shows that the mixes with
Evotherm™ as additive are
less vulnerable to moisture
induced damage. Tensile
Strength Ratio value for wet
samples after MIST
FIGURE 8 Resilient Modulus of VG 30 mixes at 45°C conditioning is also
considerably higher for
°
TABLE 6 Dynamic Creep Test results at 40 C Evotherm® when compared to
other additives and control mix.
Mix ID Total permanent strain, %
All WMA mixes except those
Un-aged mix Aged mix
with Sasobit® depicted more
PP 0.648 0.150
resistance to moisture
PE 0.392 0.316
susceptibility than the control
PS 0.346 0.152 HMA mixes.
PR 0.442 0.225 Addition of warm mix
VP 0.672 0.221 additives improves the
VE 0.456 0.384 stiffness modulus of a mix
VR 0.479 0.267 substantially when compared
VS 0.367 0.234 with control HMA mix. The
WMA mixes are produced at
much lower temperature and
hence the aggregate and
bitumen are exposed to lower
temperature. It results in
lesser aging of the mixes. The
resilient modulus was found to
be highest for mixes prepared
with Sasobit® at 25°C as well
as 45°C. The dynamic creep
test conducted at 40°C on
different mixes also show low
permanent strain in the warm
mixes when compared with
conventional bituminous
FIGURE 9 Relation between No. of Cycles and Total permanent mixture. Evotherm™ modified
o
Strain for an aged and un-aged PMB 40 mix sample at 40 C warm mixes showed higher
Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016 331
Research Board, Washington, D.C.
3. Caro, S., Beltran, D. P.,
Alvarez, A. E., and Estakhri, C. (2012).
“Analysis of moisture damage
susceptibility of warm mix asphalt
(WMA) mixtures based on Dynamic
Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) testing and
a fracture mechanics model” Construction
and Building Materials, 35, 460–467.
4. Chowdhury, Arif and Button,
Joe. (2008) “A Review of Warm Mix
Asphalt.” Technical report, Texas
Transportation Institute. Springfield,
Virginia.
5. Crews, Everett, et al.
“Prediction of Stiffness of Asphalt
Treated with Surfactant-Based Warm-
Mix Additive.” Transportation Research
Record: Journal of the Transportation
Research Board 2293.1 (2012): 89-95.
6. Gong Wenyi, Tao Mingjiang,
FIGURE 10 Relation between No. of Cycles and Total permanent Mallick. B. Rajib and El-Korchi Tahar,
o
Strain for an aged and un-aged VG 30 mix sample at 40 C (2012). “ Investigation of Moisture
Susceptibility of Warm-Mix Asphalt
mixes through laboratory mechanical
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NCHRP Report 691, Transportation
***
 332 Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, April-June 2016

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