Performance Evaluation of Asphalt Mixture with Tough Fix Hyper Additive and its Evaluation Under Long-term Water Immersion

Abstract

One of the main reasons for pavement deterioration and shortened service life in road networks is adhesion failure. The application of additives has been shown to be a successful strategy for increasing pavement durability and resistance to such failures. The purpose of this study is to assess the performance characteristics of an asphalt concrete (AC) mixture that has been submerged in water for an extended period utilizing the Tough Fix Hyper (TFH) addition. In order to do this, the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and standard binder tests were used to evaluate the conventional properties of TFH modified asphalt binder. The findings showed that the binder's mechanical, rheological, and physical characteristics are not considerably changed by the addition of TFH. A stripping test was used to evaluate binder film retention on aggregate surfaces to determine moisture susceptibility. Interestingly, The TFH-treated mixtures showed no stripping even after being submerged in water for a whole year at 25°C. Marshall Stability (MS) and Flow, moisture damage resistance, Wheel Tracking (WT), and Indirect Tensile (IDT) strength tests under long-term water immersion were used to further assess the mechanical performance of AC mixtures including the TFH additive. When compared to the control mixture, the results showed that the TFH-modified mixtures' physical performance significantly improved. In particular, IDT strength rose by almost 33% and rut depth decreased by about 28.8%. Furthermore, the TFH additive demonstrated increased resistance to moisture-induced damage by improving the mixture's IDT strength during prolonged water immersion. Overall, the results show that adding 0.15% TFH to AC mixtures greatly improves their longevity and performance when compared to unmodified mixtures.