Pursuit of the simple performance test for asphalt mixture rutting

Abstract

Major changes in the asphalt pavement industry have occurred in the last 10 years. Potential changes in the next 10 years will be substantial and highly positive to technology. This paper presents an overview of recent research efforts undertaken to recommend a fundamentally based laboratory Simple Performance Test (SPT) for permanent deformation evaluation of asphalt mixtures. The test is intended to be used within the newly adopted Superpave volumetric mixture design procedure, and to provide accurate correlation to field rutting performance. The laboratory testing program included mixtures and performance data from three major experimental sites: the Minnesota Road Project (MnROAD), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Accelerated Loading Facility Study (ALF), and the FHWA Performance Related Specifications Study (WesTrack). Eleven test types and over eighty test response parameters were evaluated. This paper focuses on three selected candidate tests for the rutting evaluation: the dynamic modulus, static creep, and the repeated load permanent deformation tests.