‘Advanced Testing and Characterization of Bituminous Materials ~ Loizos, Partl, Scarpas & Al-adi (eds) © 2009 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-55854-9. Assessment of moisture effect on open graded mixes using water sensitivity and CAntabro after immersion tests B. Rubio & R. Jiménez Centro de Estudios del Transporte del CEDEX, Madrid, Espana F Pérez & A. Martinez Universidad Politécnica de Cataluia, Barcelona, Espaia ABSTRACT: In Spain, water damage on the cohesion of porous asphalt (PA) and asphalt conerete for very thin layers (BBTM mixtures with a void content over 12%) was assessed using the Cantabro after immersion test (NLT-352). European Standards for bituminous mixtures (EN 13108) have gone into effect requiring us to assess water damage through Water Sensitivity testing (EN 12697-12, 2003). This repre- sents an important change in how to evaluate PA and BBTM water resistance. Accordingly, new requirements must be set and included in the Spanish Highway Technical Specifications (PG-3), In order to assess and compare both methods, a series of bituminous mixtures have been prepared with several types of aggregates and fillers, and with different percentages of con- ventional and polymer modified bitumen. Both methods allow the assessment of water effect. Cantabro test is more sensitive for the evaluation of moisture damage on open bituminous mixtures. A significant correlation between Cantabro and sensitivity tests was found, allowing us to establish new specifications in line with the European Standards. 1 BACKGROUND European standards for hot bituminous mixtures are basically collected in two series of standards: EN 13108 and EN 12697. The objective of EN 13108 Standards is to define the requirements criteria of the different bituminous mixtures, as well as the evaluation of con- formity (Initial Type Testing and Factory Production Control), while the aim of EN 12697 is to collect the different testing methods These standards were drawn up because of the European Commission Mandate (89/106/ CEE Construction Products Directive) and, consequently, are mandatory harmonized stand- ards. They have gone into effect since March 2008 The need of harmonizing the characteristics of the bituminous mixtures used in all the European countries, each one of them with their own orography, climatic conditions, traffic loading, etc, resulted in a wide and open set of specifications as a unique frame of refer- ence. Although these specifications are expected to be applied to different technologies, every country must define each of the specified characteristics. The testing methods were also tried to be unified and, in many cases, it will be possible to choose among several compaction and testing procedures. Accordingly, Spain, as the rest of the EU countries, had to review its own standards and specifications, and adapt them in order to be in accordance with the harmonized standards This task led to the definition of the specifications limits for the mandatory characteristics, the selection of the optional characteristics (among the whole), and the setting of the speci- men production procedures as well as the testing method for the optional characteristics From this analysis of the European Standards for bituminous mixtures it was considered that some part of the Spanish Standards had to be adapted regarding both testing procedures amand their corresponding specifications. One of these procedures was the water sensitivity test, described in EN 12697-12 (2003) The procedure used in Spain to evaluate cohesion loss in dense mixtures caused by water effect is NLT-162 Standard (NLT — 162/00, 2000). This test assesses water effect through compressive resistance before and after water immersion. For open gap-graded mixtures (air void content higher than 12) Cantabro test after immersion is used, according to NLT-352 (NLT 352/86, 1986) Given the great differences between European water sensitivity test and CAntabro after immersion test, this paper presents the results of a study about water resistance for a series of porous mixtures and asphalt concrete for very thin layers (open gap-graded mixtures) using both tests. The variables for these mixtures were set basically the filler type and the bitumen content, in order to analyse different responses to water effect for comparing both methods Subsequently, open mixtures prepared with different aggregates and bitumens were tested with the aim of correlating both methods and proposing a specification for these type of mixtures, so frequently used in Spain as wearing courses. 2. MATERIALS ‘The following materials were used: Bitumens: a 50-70 penetration grade bitumen and a polymer modified bitumen (PMB 45/80-60) were used for the bituminous mixtures preparation, Both bitumens are commonly used in Spain. Aggregates: the aggregates were crushed stone and gravel from Madrid and Catalonia ‘Three types of coarse aggregates were used: siliceous aggregate, from Velilla de San Antonio (Madrid), porphyritic aggregate from Aldeavieja (Avila), and granite from Berta (Barcelona), As fine aggregate, in addition to the sources mentioned before, two calcareous sands from El Hoyon (Madrid) and from Foj Barcelona were used. Mineral filler: there were three mineral filler: cement, calcareous filler and hygrophilous plastic kaoline. Antistripping dope: in order to improve adhesion between asphalt binder and aggregate in presence of moisture, an amine type dope was used. Bituminous mixtures: the above materials were used to prepare different mixture designs, all of which fitted to the gradations of porous asphalts (PA) and concrete asphalt for very thin layers—open gap-graded bituminous mixtures - (BBTM) usually employed in Spain ‘These gradations are shown in figures 1 and 2. 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION To deal with this study and considering the different compaction procedures for the specimens to determine water sensitivity resistance, firstly it was necessary to select the more appropriate procedure and compaction energy, so as to get a similar bulk density to what is expected in the field. Then, all the mixtures were tested using the European water sensitivity and Céntabro after immersion tests. With the aim of analysing a correlation between both methods and to determine the threshold for the indirect tensile strength ratio (ITSR) for these Spanish open mixtures, different types of aggregates, fillers, bitumens, etc., were used. 3.1 Selection of the compaction procedure for the specimens Water sensitivity test (EN 12697-12, 2003) allows the compaction of specimens by several procedures: impact compactor (EN 12697-30, 2007), gyratory compactor (EN 12697-31), vibratory compactor (EN 12697-32) and slab compactor (EN 12697-33). It is also possible to test cores taken from a bituminous layer. However, compaction energy must be selected in order to get a density or an air voids content corresponding to what is expected in the field. 272100 PASSING,% g 30 fpyar ers 2 3 8 3 SIEVES SIZE, mm Figure 1, Gradation criteria for BBTM8B and BBTMI1B mixtures. 100. 90 | —@— PA 80 70 x 60 g 2 50 3 = 0 30 20 10 0 tegees a 2 8 8 8 BATE 8 es 3s § 8 SIEVES SIZE, mm Figure 2. Gradation criteria for PAI mixtures. 273Impact compaction (Marshall hammer) was finally selected from the four options because of the vast experience with this method in Spain and also with the use of Marshall density as a reference to assess the compaction level obtained in the field. For the determination of the necessary energy level to reach the field density, Marshall specimens were prepared according to EN 12697-30 (2007) with 50 and 25 blows per face Table 1 shows the different mixtures studied. Aggregates nature nature, bitumen type and content, filler type and dope percentage are also quoted. The results presented in figure 3 show compaction percentage of the standard Marshall density for the mixtures indicated in table 1 For porous and gap-graded mixtures, the Spanish Highway Technical Specifications (PG-3) (5-6) requites that voids content can not differ in more than two percent (+ 2%) from the per- centage obtained in the job mix formula. For these types of mixes this is equivalent to 97-98% of Marshall density in 50 blows compacted specimens. As a consequence, it is concluded that specimens must be compacted with Marshall compactor applying 50 blows per face, in order to achieve similar density to that obtained after the laying and compaction of the mixture With the objective of assessing the effect of compaction level on water sensitivity test specimens compacted with 25 and 50 blows per face were tested. The results obtained were plotted in figures 4 to 9 and compared. The results of Cantabro after immersion test were also included in these figures Table 1. PA and BBTM mixtures composition, Bitumen Coarse Fine Bitumen content Filler Dope Reference aggregate aggregate type ) type ) PAIZ-1 Siliceous Caleareous 50/70 43 PAI22 Siliceous _Caleareous 50/70 45 Cement PAID3 Siliceous Caleareous_- PMB4S/80-60 4.5 Cement PAI2-4 Siliceous _Caleareous. PMB AS/80-60 4.5 Cement 03 PAL2.5 Siliceous _Caleareous_ PMB45/80-60. 5 Cement BBTMSB-1 Porphyritic _Calcareous 50/70 5 Cement ~ BBIMSB-2Porphyritic _Caleareous PMB45/80-60 5.5, Cement BBIMIL-1 — Porphyritic Calcareous 0/70 5 Cement BBTMII-2 Porphyritic Caleareous- PMB45/80-60 5 Cement 5 BLOWS 50 BLOWS, 100 COMPACTION,% gs Figure 3. Compaction level obtained for PA and BBTM mixtures. 274ass.ows ITsR.% sostows ~ ‘CANTABRO AFTER IMMERSION Figure 4. Water effect on mixture PALL-3 cCANTABRO ‘AFTER IMMERSION Figure 5. Water effect on mixture PALI-4 From these results it is concluded that, in water sensitivity tests, indirect tensile strength increases when the compaction level increases, for both dry and wet specimens. However, there is no clear increasing trend for the ITSR with the compaction level increase. For this reason and considering that water sensitivity test result is expressed as a ratio between two strengths (ITSR), the 50-blow compaction proposed is valid since compaction level does not seem to significantly affect the test result 2751.20 ITSd,MPa ITSw.MPa 25 BLOWS 50 BLOWS CANTABRO. AFTER IMMERSION Figure 6. Water effect on mixture PALI-5 BBTM8B-1 ITSd,MPa ITSw.MPa 25 BLOWS: 50 BLOWS, CANTABRO AFTER IMMERSION Figure 7. Water effect on mixture BBTMSB-1 216BBTMSB-2 25BLOWS TSR CANTABRO AFTER IMMERSION Figure 8. Water effect on mixture BBTM8B-2. BBTM11B-2 0.20 ITSd,MPa ITSw.MPa 0.00 25 BLOWS ITSR,% 50 BLOWS, CANTABRO AFTER IMMERSION Figure 9. Water effect on mixture BBTM11B-2. 2773.2. Assessment of water effect through water sensitivity and Cintabro after immersion tests Once the compaction method and conditions were determined, a series of specimens of porous asphalt (PA) and gap-graded mixtures (BBTM) were manufactured with gran- ite coarse aggregate, calcareous fine aggregate and different percentages of bitumen. Two different fillers have been used: calcareous dust, which is commonly used in Spain, and hygrophilous plastic kaoline. Water sensitivity and Cntabro afier immersion tests have been used to measure the effects of water on the different mixtures behaviour. Table 2 shows the characteristics of the tested mixtures. Test results are shown in table 3 and are plotted in figures 10 and 11 The results show for both tests that water damage resistance increases when bitumen con- tent does. Filler quality is the most influential factor in both tests. A slightly higher water resistance in BBTM than in PA was observed, being the later ones the mixtures with the higher voids content, Table 2, PA and BBTM mixtures composition, Bitumen Coarse Fine Bitumen content Filler Reference aggregate aggregate type % type PAI2-6 Granite Caleareous 50/70 4 Caleareous, PAI2-7 Granite Caleareous 50/70 5 Caleareous PAI2-8 Granite Calcareous sor70 6 Calcareous PAI2-9 Granite Granite 50/70 4 Plastic kaoline PAI2-10 Granite Granite 50/70 5 Plastic kaoline PAIZ-11 Granite Granite 50/70 6 Plastic kaoline BBTMIIB-3 Granite Calcareous 50/70 4 Calcareous BBTMLB-4 Granite Caleareous 50/70 5 Caleareous BBTMIIB-5 Granite Calcareous 50/70 6 Caleareous BBIMLIB-6 Granite Granite 50/70 4 Plastic kaoline BBTMIIB-7 Granite Granite 50/70 5 Plastic kaoline BBIMLIB-8 Granite Granite 50/70 6 Plastic kaoline Table 3, Test results of PA and BBTM mixtures Bitumen Cantabro Bitumen content, Filler ITSR after immersion Reference type 2) type %) “ PALL-6 50/70 4 Calcareous 60.6 82.0 PAIL-7 so/70 5 Caleareous 75.2 49.8 PAILS 50/70 6 Calcareous 89.1 212 PAIL9 So/70 4 Plastic kaoline 48.7 96.6 PAIL-10 50/70 5 Plastic kaoline 66.7 R4 PAIL S0/70 6 Plastic kaoline 80.7 28.5 BBTMLIB-3 50/70 4 Calcareous 60.4 49.5 BBTMLIB-4 So/70 5 Caleareous 86.9 23 BBTMIIB-S 50/70 6 Calcareous 37.6 109 BBTMIIB-6 sor70 4 Plastic kaoline 43.3 95.8 BBTMIIB-7 50/70 5 Plastic kaoline 58.3 55.4 BBIMLIB-8 50/70 6 Plastic kaoline 87.0 165 278ITSR- CANTABRO Logarta (calcareous TSR) — Logaritmiea (ealeareous Cant) $00 —Logartmica (plastic TSR) — _Logarimiea (paste Cant PA MIXTURES no 74 6 35. 4 45 5 55 . 6s BITUMEN. Figure 10, Variation of water sensitivity and Céntabro tests with the filler type and the bitumen con- tent. PA mixtures. ITSR-CANTABRO —Logaritmica (caleareous ITSR) — Logaritmica (calcareous Cant) —Logaritmica (plastic TSR) __— Logaritmiea (plastic Cant) 100, BBTM MIXTURES BITUMEN Figure 11. Variation of water sensitivity and Cantabro tests with the filler type and the bitumen con- tent. BBTM mixtures, Nevertheless, CAntabro losses vary considerably with the bitumen content and the filler type, Cantabro losses range between 10 and 97%, while ITSR varies in an interval from 43 to 87%. These results show that Cntabro test is more sensitive for the assessment of water damage in open bituminous mixtures. 3.3. Correlation between both tests A correlation between water sensitivity and Céntabro after immersion tests was done, with the aim of determining the threshold for the European method. So, using the results from 279table 4, Cantabro after immersion losses were plotted against ITSR obtained through water sensitivity test, as can be seen in figure 12. These results show that there is a relatively high correlation (R? = 0.77) between Cantabro after immersion losses and ITSR. The maximum values of Cantabro after immersion losses required in the Spanish Highway Technical Specifications (PG-3) to assess water effect in BBTM and PA, are 25% and 35%, respectively. According to the regression line obtained in figure 12, these requirements are equivalent to an ITSR of 82% and 77% approximately. ‘Table 4, Test results of all PA and BBTM mixtures Reference Bitten Bitumen Filler Dope ITSR — CAntabro after type content (%) type (4) C%)—— immersion (%) PALL-L 50/70 45 585 90.0 PALL-2 50/70 45 Cement - 65.9 65.1 PALL3 PMB 45/80-60 4.5, Cement 116 28 PALL-4 PMB 45/80-60 4.5 ‘Cement 03 818 18.2 PALL-S PMB 45/80-60 5 Cement 116 2S PALL-6 50/70 4 Calcareous 60.6 82.0 PALL-7 50/70 5 Caleareous 752 458 PAILS 50/70 6 Caleareous 89.1 21.2 PALL9 50/70 4 Plastic kaoline 48.7 96.6 PALL-10 50/70 5 Plastic kaoline 66.7 72.4 PALL 50/70 6 Plastic kaoline 80.7 28.5 BBTM8B-1 50/70 5 ‘Cement 66.7 24.0 BBTMSB-2 PMB 45/80-60 5.5 ‘Cement - 796 98 BBIMLIB-1 0/70 5 Cement 68.1 526 BRTMIIB-2 PMB45/80-60 5 Cement nN2 28 BBTMIIB-3 50/70 4 Calcareous 604 49.5 BBTMIIB-4 50/70 5 Calcareous 869 223 BBTMIIB-5 50/70 6 Calcareous 87.6 109 BBTMIIB-6 50/70 4 Plastic kaoline 433 958 BBIMIIB-7 50/70 5 Plastic kaoline 583 554 BBTMIIB-8 50/70 6 Plastic kaoline 37.0165 400 20 0 7 of 50 40 20 ‘CANTABRO AFTER INMERSION.% 20 40 50 60 70 a0 90 100 ITSR(s0 BLOWS).% Figure 12, Correlation between water sensitivity and Cantabro tests 280Considering that PA and BBTM are the mixtures for wearing courses most frequently used. in roads with high heavy-vehicle traffic (traffic intensity ranging from more than 4000 to 800 heavy vehicles per day) and the high voids content in these mixtures, a minimum 90% of ITSR for BBTM and 85% for PA was proposed. This threshold is necessary to ensure a good performance in presence of moisture, although in some cases the use of dopes to improve adhesion is required to fulfill this minimum requirement. The additional cost of adding between 1 and 3 kg of additive per ton of bitumen does not mean a significant increase in the cost of polymer modified bituminous mixture, 4 CONCLUSIONS According to the results of this study aimed to compare water sensitivity and Cantabro after immersion tests, the following conclusions can be drawn’ + Marshall method has been considered as the more appropriate compaction procedure to manufacture the specimens for assessing water sensitivity. In order to teach the values of the field bulk density the specimens must be compacted by 50 blows per face. + Experimental results obtained through water sensitivity test show that both dry and wet indirect tensile strength increase with the compaction level. However, there is no clear trend of the ITSR percentage increase when the compaction level rises, as dry and wet (after immersion) indirect tensile strengths show. + The ITSR in this water sensitivity test decreases when bitumen content drops and hygrophilous filler is used. Nevertheless, ITSR variations are lower than Cantabro losses, thus showing the greater sensitivity of Cantabro test to assess the behaviour of mixtures in presence of moisture. * Considering the specific characteristic of these mixtures, the obtained regression lines allow to propose a minimum value for ITSR, namely, 90% for BBTM and 85% for PA. + The proposed requirements should be confirmed with those obtained by producers doing the CE marking of their mixtures, although these suggested values should be considered definitive once the mixtures behaviour is evaluated at full scale. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to acknowledge the funding support from the Direecién General de Carreteras del Ministerio de Fomento, as well as thank to Mr. A. Vitiuales, H. Muiioz and E, Corrochano for their cooperation at the experimental stage of this study. REFERENCES EN 12697-12, 2003, Bituminous mixtures—Test methods for hot mix asphalt—Part 12: Determination of the water sensitivity of bituminous specimens. European Committee for Standardization. EN 12697-30, 2007, Bituminous mixtures—Test methods for hot mix asphalt—Part 30: Specimen prep- aration, impact compactor. European Committee for Standardization. ‘Mezclas bituminosas en caliente 2004. Articulo 542, Pliego de Prescripciones Técnicas Generales para Obras de Carreteras y Puentes, PG-3, Orden FOM/891/2004, Ministerio de Fomento. ‘Mezclas bituminosas discontinuas en caliente para capas de rodadura 2004. Articulo $43, Pliego de Prescripciones Técnicas Generales para Obras de Carreteras y Puentes, PG-3, Orden FOM/891/2004, Ministerio de Fomento, 'NLT-162/00, 2000. Efecto del agua sobre la cohesién de las mezclas bituminosas compactadas (Ensayo de inmersion-compresion)” Normas NLT I~ Ensayos de carreteras, CEDEX. NLT-352/86, 1986, Caracterizacién de mezclas bituminosas abiertas por medio del ensayo cantabro de pérdida por desgaste, Normas NLT L- Ensayos de carreteras, CEDEX, 281