Saad Issa Sarsam,
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Sarsam and Associates Consult Bureau (SACB), Baghdad, Iraq
Abstract
The moisture damage of asphalt concrete is considered as major type of distress in heavy rainfall
environment. In this work, the decline in the initial flexural stiffness of asphalt concrete was monitored
after practicing the moisture damage process. The variations were analyzed relative to the control
mixture. Asphalt concrete mixtures were created in the laboratory with the optimal binder content.
Extra mixtures were also prepared with ±0.5% variation of binder content from optimum for
comparison. The compaction of the asphalt concrete mixtures were conducted into a slab mold with the
aid of roller. A diamond saw was used to cut the beam varieties from the slab samples. Beam specimens
were separated into two groups, the first group practiced the moisture damage process and the second
group was denoted as the control mixtures. The prepared beam specimens were subjected to dynamic
flexural stresses at three various constant strain levels. It was observed that moisture damaged
specimens tested under 250 and 400 constant Microstrain levels exhibit failure at 75 and 70% of the
original flexural stiffness respectively. The elapsed time increases by 100 and 166.6% at mixtures
prepared with 4.8 and 4.3% binder respectively after moisture damage process while the elapsed time
declines by 50% for mixture prepared with 5.3% binder content after moisture damage. It was
concluded that the moisture damaged mixtures exhibit early stage of failure before reaching the 50%
of its original flexural stiffness.
Keywords: Moisture damage, asphalt concrete, constant strain, flexural stiffness, distress
[This article belongs to Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications (ttea)]
Saad Issa Sarsam. Initiation of Distress in Asphalt Concrete After Practicing Moisture Damage. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2024; 11(02):7-13.
Saad Issa Sarsam. Initiation of Distress in Asphalt Concrete After Practicing Moisture Damage. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2024; 11(02):7-13. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ttea/article=2024/view=171304
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Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 02 |
| Received | July 6, 2024 |
| Accepted | July 23, 2024 |
| Published | July 25, 2024 |