EVALUATING RUT POTENTIAL OF SELECTED ASPHALT MIXES FOR IMPROVED PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE

This study evaluated rut potential of 10 plant-produced mixes for the assessment of improved pavement performance. Three of these mixes were of type A, 6 were type B insoluble, and 1 was a type C mix. Cylindrical specimens were prepared from these mixes using a Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC). A total of 54 SGC cylindrical specimens were tested using the Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA). All mixes were ranked based on cylindrical samples APA rut data. Only 1 mix was found to be poor performing as it showed rut depth of more than 4 mm. All project data such as aggregate type, job-mix formula, binder performing grade, mix variables and traffic data were obtained. APA rut test data was analyzed to identify the important contributing factors. It was found that type A mixes were sensitive to percent asphalt content, where as type B insoluble mixes were sensitive to material passing number 200 sieve. Specimens were prepared at target air voids of 6-8%. Air voids played no significant role in rutting performance. APA was found to be useful equipment for evaluation of rutting potential of HMA mixes as well as their performance.