Aggregate gradations on moisture and rutting resistances of open graded friction course mixtures: Fid-Bau Portal

Aggregate gradations on moisture and rutting resistances of open graded friction course mixtures

Xiao, Feipeng / Herndon, David A. / Amirkhanian, Serji / He, Liang

Highlights • This study was to investigate moisture and rutting resistances of OGFC mixture. • Four aggregate sources were evaluated in terms of three gradations and two binders. • Aggregate gradation and source affected moisture and rutting resistances of OGFC. • Some new test methods should be developed to evaluate these performance properties. • Constructing test sections for OGFC mixture using alternate gradations is recommended.

Abstract An open-graded friction course (OGFC), providing a higher degree of friction as well as permeability to the surface of the pavement, is a thin layer of permeable asphalt, which typically placed on top of traditional dense-graded asphalt pavement. The objective of this study was to investigate moisture and rutting resistance characteristics of one low Los Angeles (L.A.) Abrasion aggregate compared to three high L.A. Abrasion aggregates in terms of three gradations and two PG 76-22 binders. The main tested properties include moisture susceptibility (indirect tensile strength and tensile strength ratio) and the modified asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) rut depth. The test results indicated that aggregate gradation affected the moisture susceptibility and rutting resistance of OGFC mixtures. In addition, the moisture and rutting resistance of OGFC mixture could be evaluated by the common or modified test methods, but some new methods should be developed to properly evaluate these properties. Moreover, constructing test sections using alternate gradations while maintaining desired OGFC mixture properties is recommended.