Optimisation and field assessment of poroelastic wearing course bond quality

Abstract

Compared to typical asphalt mixtures, poroelastic mixtures are characterised by high porosity and high flexibility, which are desirable for traffic noise reduction. However, the same properties increase the risk of debonding from the lower layer, which is a significant source of premature damage. The study investigates which of the factors–tack coat agent, type and texture of the lower layer–have the greatest impact on interlayer bonding quality. From 27 variants of interface bond techniques investigated in laboratory, 8 were selected and constructed on two full-scale test sections. Monotonic direct shear loading and cyclic direct shear loading tests with normal force were used for this purpose. The tests indicated that softer bitumen used for the tack coat and the milled texture of the lower layer improves bond quality. However the appropriate laying compaction has the major influence. Poroelastic mixtures are much more sensitive to technological imperfections than standard asphalt mixtures.