Research on improving the durability of bridge pavement using a high‐modulus asphalt mixture

Abstract

In order to improve the durability of the asphalt pavement on a cement concrete bridge, this study investigated the effect of the modulus of the asphalt mixture at the bottom layer on the mechanical response of bridge pavement, along with a type of emerging bridge pavement structure. In addition, the design method and pavement performance of a high‐modulus asphalt mixture were investigated using laboratory and field tests, and the life expectancy of the deck pavement structure was predicted based on the rutting deformation. The results showed that the application of a high‐modulus asphalt mixture as the bottom asphalt layer decreased the stress level of the pavement structure. The new high‐modulus asphalt mixture displayed excellent comprehensive performance, i.e., the dynamic stability reached 9632 times/mm and the fatigue life reached 1.65 million cycles. Based on the rutting depth prediction, using high‐modulus mixtures for the bridge pavement prolonged the service life from the original 5 years to 10 years, which significantly enhanced the durability of the pavement structure. These research results could be of potential interest for practical applications in the construction industry.