Induction Healing of Porous Asphalt Concrete Beams on an Elastic Foundation

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the healing capacity of steel wool–reinforced porous asphalt concrete. The healing is initiated with induction heating. Bending fracture tests on an elastic foundation are used to prove the healing mechanism. Porous asphalt concrete beams on an elastic foundation were fractured at 5°C; subsequently, they were heated with induction energy, and finally fractured again. The recovered fracture resistance of the beams was used as a healing indicator. Totally fractured porous asphalt beams can regain 78.8% of their bending resistance (strength) when induction heating is applied. It was also found that the optimal heating temperature is 85°C for porous asphalt beams to obtain the highest strength recovery. Reheating of the fractured beams does not decrease the recovery of the flexural resistance, which means that the heating can be repeated when cracks return. On the basis of these findings, it is expected that the healing potential of porous asphalt concrete and the durability of a porous asphalt pavement will be improved by induction heating.