RUTTING EVALUATION OF BITUMINOUS MIXES USING WHEEL LOAD TESTERS

Abstract

Abstract:

Permanent deformation also known as rutting, is the major mode of distress affecting the service life and performance of bituminous pavements. Rutting occurs due to excessive stresses on subgrade, inadequate strength of bituminous mix, inadequate thickness of pavement layers or poor construction methods. Among these causes, quality of bituminous mix is one of the main factors that contribute towards rutting failure.There are several test methods like Uniaxial tests, Triaxial tests, Diametral tests, Shear tests and Simulative tests in practice to assess the rutting potential of bituminous mixes.Of all these test methods, simulative tests are preferred over all others as they simulate traffic and environmental conditions more realistically and are relatively easier for performing the test.

The link between laboratory testing and potential field performance of bituminous mixes is very important to improve the bituminous pavement life-cycle performance. There are various makes an attempt to create the primitive between laboratory testing and field performance by developing small-scale laboratory instruments and procedures for accelerated, simulative performance testing of bituminous mixes.

Currently the most common type of standardized laboratory equipment of this nature is a wheel load tester, also known as wheel tracking device. This paper presents the salient features of various wheel load testers in practice to estimate rutting potential of bituminous mixes

Key words: Rutting, bituminous mix, wheel load testers, simulative/wheel tracking tests, performance criteria