Performance Prediction Of Rubber Modified Asphalt Mixes Using The German Design Approach

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Performance Prediction Of Rubber Modified Asphalt Mixes Using The German Design Approach

Juliane Kraft, Anita Blasl , Frohmut Wellner

ABSTRACT. The objective of this report is to investigate the durability of rubber-modified asphalt pavements in terms of fatigue depended design life calculations according to the German design approach. The materials selected for the investigations are rubber-modified asphalt concrete wearing and base course mixes containing 10, 15 and 20 % of rubber added to a paving bitumen (50/70) as base and reference bitumen. Additionally, a polymer-modified bitumen (PmB 25/55-55), which is commonly used in asphalt wearing and binder courses, has been involved in the investigations to verify the modification states. As necessary input data for the mathematical design procedure stiffness and fatigue properties of all mixes are determined using indirect tensile swelling test. Finally, the results are summarised to characterize the performance properties of the investigated asphalt materials with different rubber contents as well as the reference variants. Additionally, recommendations in terms of the use of rubbermodified asphalts in comparison to commonly used materials are given.

 KEYWORDS: asphalt, reclaimed car tires, rubber-modification, design, performance.