Evaluating the Rutting Potential of Asphalt Mixtures with Simple and Practical Tests

The objective of this study was to explore the use of monotonic loading tests (“monotonic tests”) as screening tools to assess the rutting potential of dense-graded asphalt surface mixtures in Virginia. To that end, three monotonic tests—the indirect tensile at high temperature (IDT-HT) test, the rapid rutting (RR) test, and the Marshall stability and flow (MS) test—identified from the literature, were evaluated using 16 plant-produced asphalt mixtures with “A” and “D” designations. The scope of the work also included performing the multiple stress creep and recovery test on the extracted and recovered binders. The results were applied to assess the monotonic tests and the asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) test relative to each other using several performance metrics. The results were also employed to develop performance threshold criteria for the tests being considered. The results showed that the IDT-HT and RR tests can be used to screen the rutting potential of asphalt mixtures meeting the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) mixture volumetric and gradation requirements for A and D mixtures. The initial performance criteria for the IDT-HT and RR tests were established for these mixtures. Based on the results, the IDT-HT test was found to be the most suitable alternative test to the APA test.