Laboratory Performance of Superpave Mixes for Perpetual Pavements

Abstract

Long life asphalt pavement, also known as "Perpetual Pavement", is a pavement with design life more than 50 years and needs only periodic surface renewal. It works on the concept of controlling horizontal tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt layer and vertical compressive strain at the top of the subgrade to a particular limit. This can be achieved by increasing the binder content of the mix over the optimum binder content (OBC) and by increasing the overall pavement thickness. In the present study two Superpave mixes were prepared using conventional binder at OBC (optimum binder mixture [OBM]) and also at 0.5 % extra binder over OBC (rich binder mixture [RBM]) which can be used in Perpetual Pavements. The mixes were tested for indirect tensile (IDT) strength, moisture susceptibility, fatigue and rutting resistance. From the results it was observed that, OBM performed well as compared to RBM. However the fatigue life of RBM was more compared to the OBM and this helps in reducing the horizontal tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt layer which in turn increases the life of the pavement. � ASCE.