Nouffou Tapsoba

Time Temperature Superposition Principle Validation for Bituminous Mixes in the Linear and Nonlinear Domains

AbstractThe mechanical behavior of bituminous mixes is very complex. It is also characterized by great thermal sensitivity. In the small strain domain (for strain amplitudes below approximately 10−4), it can be considered to be linear, therefore the linear viscoelasticity theory can be applied. In addition, the time temperature superposition principle (TTSP) may be assumed, with a good approximation. This has been widely verified regarding the unidimensional behavior of bituminous mixes in the viscoelastic linear domain. This paper provides an overview of TTSP for bituminous materials, and three-dimensional (3D) behavior and nonlinear domain are also considered. The 3D behavior is characterized by measurements of the complex modulus and complex Poisson’s ratio. For both parameters, master curves are plotted to check the validity of TTSP in 3D. Some experiments in the nonlinear domain (considering strains up to some percentages and some crack propagation tests) are also conducted in equivalent conditions o...

Behaviour of asphalt mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement and asphalt shingle

This paper presents the results of laboratory research on asphalt mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and asphalt shingle, including the study of their linear viscoelastic (LVE) behaviour and fatigue characteristics. Complex modulus measurements using the tension-compression test on cylindrical specimens were conducted to determine LVE behaviour. Sinusoidal cyclic loadings with a strain amplitude of approximately 50×10−6 were applied at several temperatures (from−30°C to+40°C) and frequencies (from 0.01 to 10 Hz). In addition to axial stresses and strains, radial strains were also measured. The complex modulus E* and complex Poissons ratio ν* were then obtained and the three-dimensional (3D) LVE behaviour (with isotropy hypothesis) was then completely described. The time–temperature superposition principle was verified with good approximation in uni-dimensional and 3D conditions for the same values of shift factor. Experimental results were modelled using the 2 springs, 2 parabolic creep elements and 1 dashpot model developed at University of Lyon/ENTPE. Fatigue properties were evaluated by tension-compression tests on cylindrical specimens using the same testing device used for complex modulus. Sinusoidal loading at 10 Hz in controlled axial strain mode was applied at 10°C. The variation of complex modulus E* and complex Poissons ratio ν* as a function of the number of cycles was obtained. The fatigue test results were analysed using six different fatigue life criteria. The analysis of the results provided a ranking of the tested materials. The influence of RAP and asphalt shingle contents was quantified.

Low-Temperature Cracking of Recycled Asphalt Mixtures

The thermo-mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures, with Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and other recycled materials was investigated. The cracking behavior at low temperature was studied considering Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Tests (TSRST). The experimental setup was improved as the radial strains were measured during the performed TSRST. Tri-dimensional behavior could thus be investigated. Mixes made with different RAP content (up to 25%) and manufacturing-waste asphalt roofing shingle content (up to 10%) were studied. The influence of the content of RAP and shingle was analysed. A ranking of the different mixes was proposed based on the classical TSRST outputs, stress and temperature at failure.

Three-Dimensional Characterisation of Linear Viscoelastic Properties of Bituminous Mixtures

This chapter focuses on the three-dimensional linear viscoelastic (3D-LVE) behaviour of bituminous mixtures and in particular on the measurement and modelling of the complex Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio (PR). In the first part of the chapter, the LVE definition of PR is reviewed and experimental measurements of the LVE PR carried out over the last 40 years are summarised. The second part of the chapter is devoted to the description of a RILEM round robin test (RRT) organized by Task Group 3 (TG3) “Mechanical testing of bituminous mixtures” of RILEM TC 237-SIB. Within the RRT uniaxial cyclic (sinusoidal tension/compression or haversine compression) tests at different temperatures and frequencies were carried out on cylindrical specimens cored from laboratory compacted slabs. Two types of bituminous mixtures, GB3 (continuously graded) and GB5® (gap-graded), were analysed. Five laboratories participated in the RRT, each laboratory measured axial and transverse (or diametral) strains using different sensors and configurations. In particular, transverse strain was measured along two orthogonal directions in order to evaluate the effect of compaction-induced anisotropy on PR. Results confirmed that PR of bituminous mixtures is a complex function of temperature and frequency and that the time-temperature superposition principle can be applied (for absolute value and phase angle). For the studied mixtures the norm of the complex PR ranged between 0.22 (low temperatures/high frequencies) and 0.60 (high temperatures/low frequencies) whereas the phase angle was less than 6°. A small difference (less than 0.05) was found between measurements carried out in two orthogonal directions. This small difference is probably related to measurement accuracy and not to the anisotropic behaviour of the material. Comparison of data between the different laboratories, which could not be performed at exactly the same temperatures and frequencies, was performed using a common reference given by the 3-dimensional formulation of the 2S2P1D linear viscoelastic model. This model provides a good simulation of experimental data. Based on close results from all participating laboratories, it is possible to conclude that cyclic uniaxial test could be a good candidate to become a standard test for evaluating the 3D-LVE behaviour of bituminous mixtures.