Predicting and Enhancing the Moisture-Damage Performance of Asphalt Mixtures

本研究的总体目的是利用热力学表面自由能和粘结断裂能相结合的方法来了解、预测和提高沥青混合料路面材料的抗水毁性能。沥青混合料的水损害与材料的粘附性和粘聚性以及水的存在如何影响这些机理直接相关。虽然现有的力学测试程序可以量化沥青混合料的水损害，但它们并不测量与粘附性和内聚力相关的基本材料特性。这项研究将结合使用单调加载试验测量沥青-集料和沥青-填料胶乳-集料体系的粘附性断裂能，以及基于热力学表面自由能概念的本征粘附性计算，在沥青混合料的水损害性能和材料筛选方面产生阶梯变化。这些新方法和新方法的引入和发展将为更好地选择和预测合适的路面材料提供必要的工具。这项研究将涉及路面工程材料领域的研究人员与粘合、粘合剂和复合材料的机械工程方面的研究人员之间的合作。这种结合的方法将使沥青技术、水损害表征、表面能和粘结测试和建模方面的极高专业知识有效地有助于改善对沥青混合料中水损害的了解和预测，从而为实现提高水损害性能的项目目标提供工具。

The overall aim of this research is to use a combination of thermodynamic surface free energy and adhesion fracture energy measurements to understand, predict and enhance the resistance to moisture-damage of asphalt mixture pavement materials. Moisture-damage of asphalt mixtures is directly associated with the adhesive and cohesive properties of the material and how the presence of water affects these mechanisms. Although mechanical test procedures exist to quantify the moisture-damage of asphalt mixtures, they do not measure the fundamental material properties related to adhesion and cohesion. This study will use a combination of adhesive fracture energy measurements on bitumen-aggregate and bitumen-filler mastic-aggregate systems using monotonically-loaded tests together with intrinsic adhesion calculations based on thermodynamic surface free energy concepts to produce a step change in the moisture-damage performance and material screening of asphalt mixtures. The introduction and development of these new methods and novel approaches will provide the tools needed for the better selection and moisture-damage prediction of appropriate pavement materials. The study will involve collaboration between researchers working in the areas of pavement engineering materials and the mechanical engineering aspects of adhesion, adhesives and composites. This combined approach will allow the exceptionally high expertise in asphalt technology, moisture-damage characterisation, surface energy and adhesive bond testing and modelling to contribute effectively to improving the understanding and prediction of moisture-damage in asphalt mixtures and thereby provide a tool to achieve the project goal of enhancing moisture-damage performance.