Comparative evaluation of five HMA rutting-related laboratory test methods relative to field performance data: DM, FN, RLPD, SPST, and HWTT
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2019 Elsevier Ltd Rutting or permanent deformation (PD) is one of the most critical distresses occurring in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. However, despite all of the recent efforts aimed at producing new test methods and better road materials, HMA rutting is still prevalent, particularly in hot regions and/or on highways with heavy truck-traffic loading. Laboratory testing to screen HMA mixes against rutting during the HMA mix-design stage thus constitute a vital step towards optimizing field performance. In this Texas case study, five laboratory test methods were comparatively evaluated for quantifying and screening four HMA mixes rutting resistance potential relative to their field performance on in-service highway test sections under conventional traffic loading and climatic conditions. The five test methods included the dynamic modulus (DM), flow number (FN), repeated load permanent deformation (RLPD), simple punching shear test (SPST), and Hamburg wheel tracking tester (HWTT), respectively. The four HMA mixes evaluated included commonly used Texas fine-, coarse-, and porous-graded mixes. The data for the study, both laboratory and field performance including climate (temperatures) and traffic loading, were all extracted from Texas flexible pavements and overlays database, namely the Texas Data Storage System denoted as the DSS. Overall, all the laboratory test predictions correlated well with the actual measured field performance data, with the HWTT and SPST tests exhibiting superiority over the other test methods. As theoretically expected, the coarse-graded HMA mix out-performed the other mixes, with the fine- and porous-graded mixes being at the lower end of the spectrum.
