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INTERPRETATION OF LABORATORY TEST RESULTS TO DETERMINE THE BITUMEN DOSAGE FOR ASPHALT CONCRETES

Anda Ligia Belc

Abstract

The determination of bitumen dosages for asphalt mixtures using empirical or semi-empirical methods (the specific surface method being the most well-known) no longer meets national or international technical standards. Most countries require the use of methods for determining the optimum binder content by laboratory tests grouped, usually, on several levels according to the Marshall or Superpave mix design. Romanian technical standards in this field are European and national standards, which unequivocally impose well established limits for each constituent and each characteristic of the prepared asphalt mixture, the mix design method approached being the Marshall one. These Romanian standards have been adopted in the last years and the results obtained in specialized laboratories contradict, in many cases, the values imposed by the current technical standards. The paper presents a series of laboratory tests performed to determine the optimum bitumen content for the production of an asphalt concrete for the wearing course. The tests highlight the fact that, regardless of the grading, it is difficult to achieve all the required physical and mechanical characteristics, starting from rangimg the bitumen content within the limits imposed by the Romanian technical standards. The mentioned laboratory tests are part of a broader research to be carried out in the next period of time and the authors wish to collaborate with other specialists for a possible revision of the Romanian standards requirements in this field.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2018/6.3/s26.036

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