Use Natural Asphalt for Cold Mixes in Road Maintenance
摘要
The study involved characterizing two asphaltite samples from the Mariel, Artemisa, and Bejucal areas in Mayabeque, as well as two asphalt rock samples from the Angelita-Peñón area in Matanzas. These samples were intended for use in creating cold asphalt mixtures for secondary road paving. The mixtures were designed using the SUPERPAVE procedure at level 1, with measurements taken for sensitivity to water and resistance to plastic deformation using the wheel tracking machine test. Various asphaltite contents in the mixture were tested to replace the fine aggregate, and different types of binders were also tested in combination with the asphaltite. The characterization results showed that both the asphalt rocks and the asphaltites contain a significant amount of asphalt, ranging from 17 to 70%. They are characterized by their high hardness and low susceptibility to temperature due to their high degree of oxidation. The experiments with mixtures determined that an optimal content of 40% asphaltite in cold mixtures led to a 1% reduction in the optimal asphalt content, improved cold mixture stability and resistance to moisture damage, and significantly increased resistance to plastic deformation compared to conventional mixtures.