Influence of Hot Asphalt Concrete Preparation Technology on its Strength

Abstract

<p>Asphaltic concrete is a composite material in which its mineral components: gravel, quartz sand and mineral powder is coupled by using bitumen. The experimentally determined that the quality of adhesion depends on the temperature at which all components had been mixing of hot asphalt mixes. However, the influence heating time remains unexplored. In this work the strength of compound was investigated on the samples of granite glued with using bitumen in a large range of temperature and time. It has been found that at a temperature of 140 degrees the strength increases significantly with time, but then starts to decline. The authors argue that the process of formation and destruction of adhesive compound bitumen and minerals can be described by the thermofluctuational theory of strength. Bitumen molecules on the boundary surface of the mineral become in a compressed state. The thickness of this layer can achieve 100 µm. The durability of road surfaces and the bond strength of all components asphalt concrete depends from quality of this indicator. Researches were conducted of the influence of the same temperature and time on the mechanical properties of the bitumen, but don’t found significant changes.</p>