Effect of Mixture Characteristics on Cooling Rate of Asphalt Pavements

Abstract

This paper is aimed at estimating the time available for compaction of a hot-mix asphalt mixture during night construction. Laboratory tests were conducted on dense-graded and porous asphalt (PA) mixtures to evaluate their mechanical properties. Temperatures and mix characteristics tested in the laboratory were determined to be those typically found in an asphalt lift from initial laydown through final compaction. In field, thermocouples were installed at different depths to measure temperature changes to decide pavement cooling times of the same mixes as used in the laboratory. The cooling behavior of asphalt concrete could be classified into the following three stages: rapid, transition and stable zone. The air void in the PA mix was found to contribute to heat loss and result in a rapid cooling rate when compared to that in a dense-graded mix. The cooling rate at depth of 0, 2.5, and