Enhanced asphalt mixture behavior by using khawa clay to resist deformation

Abstract

Abstract This paper aims to investigate the effect of adding bentonite (khawa clay) on the asphalt mixture response represented by reducing total accumulative deformation. Asphalt cement with penetration grade of (40-50) and optimum asphalt content of 4.9 was used. Bentonite with different percentages of (0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% by total weight of asphalt cement) was used. The asphalt mixtures were tested by uniaxial creep test under static load at two test temperature (40°C and,60°C) and the applied stress used 600 KPa. From the experimental result of rotational viscosity after and before the addition of bentonite at two temperatures 135°C and 165°C, it can be seen that the viscosity of the asphalt cement was enhanced when adding 9% of Khawa clay to around 126% percent of improvement in viscosity at 135°C and about 195% at 165°C. The improvement in the viscosity of asphalt leads to a decrease in the accumulative strain.