PURPOSES : The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of air voids, binder content, and aggregate gradation on the indirect tensile strength (IDT) and cracking tolerance index (CTindex) of cored asphalt pavements. METHODS : Cored samples were obtained from roads in Incheon city, and several laboratory experiments were performed. First, the cored samples were first to cut into a size appropriate for the IDT test. Subsequently, the air voids of the samples were measured. The damaged sample from the IDT test was loose mixed at 150 ℃ before the binder content was determined, which was conducted via an asphalt extraction test. Finally, the clean aggregates obtained from asphalt extraction process were analyzed in the aggregate gradation test. RESULTS : The result shows that an increase in air voids from 4% to 8% decreases the IDT and cracking tolerance index (CTindex) by 30% and 28%, respectively. Incorporating a binder enhances the ductile behavior of the asphalt mixture, resulting in a higher CTindex. Finally, the contribution of the aggregate grade on the IDT and CTindex is negligible. CONCLUSIONS : The IDT and CTindex are primarily affected by the air voids and binder content. A higher percentage of air voids results in a lower IDT. In addition, a higher amount of binder increases the IDT and CTindex of the cored samples. Meanwhile, the aggregate grade does not affect the IDT.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this paper is to develop an evaluation method for aged reclaimed asphalt pavements using RAP mortar specimen and FTIR method. METHODS: To evaluate the low-temperature behavior of aged reclaimed asphalt pavements, an indirect tensile strength test was adopted with an RAP mortar specimen. The RAP mortar specimen without a rejuvenator was fabricated with two fine aggregate types as a function of passing sieve sizes. The fabricated RAP mortar specimen was frozen for 24 h at -20℃. The indirect tensile strength was measured as a function of different absolute viscosities. The indirect tensile strength and displacement were varied as functions of the dosage of the rejuvenator. The spectroscopy analysis of four asphalt binders was performed under attenuated total reflection. The four asphalt binders comprised of a virgin binder, two extracted RAP binders, and a mixed virgin and extracted RAP binder. To evaluate the oxidation of the binder, the carbonyl index was calculated. RESULTS : The four extracted RAP binders were measured with an extremely wide range of absolute viscosity from 30,000 poise to 170,000 poise. The indirect tensile strength of the RAP mortar decreased as the absolute viscosity increased. This means that at lower temperatures, the indirect tensile strength can indicate the oxidation of RAP. Also, the indirect tensile strength and displacement changed sensitively as the dosage of the rejuvenator was changed. Based on the FTIR principle, a good relation was observed between the dosage of the rejuvenator and the FTIR absorbance peak. It can be used to estimate the dosage of the rejuvenator in hot reclaimed asphalt mixture. Also, the carbonyl index of the RAP binder was calculated to evaluate asphalt oxidation using the FTIR principle. CONCLUSIONS : There is a good relation between the indirect tensile strength of RAP mortar and its absolute viscosity. This indicates that RAP mortar can be used to estimate the properties of aged RAP. Also, the usage of rejuvenator can be evaluated with both the indirect tensile strength and FTIR absorbance peak. The carbonyl index can be used to predict asphalt oxidation.

PURPOSES : This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) as a testing method that can predict cracking on pavement. METHODS: Three asphalt binders and one kind of aggregate were used in this study, and all asphalt mixtures were produced using Gyratory Compactor followed asphalt mix design. The ITS test was performed for the mixture which are artificially short-term aged using the oven. The ITS properties were analyzed by air void, compaction temperature, asphalt content, and asphalt binder. RESULTS: The results of this study indicated that (1) the compaction temperature did not show relationship with the ITS test; (2) there was no specific trend between the asphalt content and the ITS test; (3) the ITS could reveal the property of kinds of asphalt binders; (4) the asphalt mixture that were produced at optimum temperature suggested by manufacturer did not exhibit optimum result for all asphalt binder. CONCLUSIONS : The possibility of ITS was confirmed from this study for replacement of the Marshall Stability method. However, it needs to perform in further studies of aggregate and compaction property to suggest a new ITS standard value.