WATER SENSITIVITY: BINDER VALIDATION

This Strategic Highway Research Program study was undertaken to evaluate the hypotheses concerning the influence of binder properties on the moisture susceptibility of asphalt-aggregate mixes. Thirty-two mixes using eight asphalts and four aggregates from the Materials Reference Library were used to fabricate roller-compacted slabs from which specimens were sawed or cored. The mixes were tested by four procedures. Because the water-conditioning and testing procedures were different, it was not appropriate to make direct comparisons of results or to use the results for ranking materials. It was concluded that, for water-sensitivity, asphalts or aggregates could not be ranked alone but that combinations or pairs were more appropriate because of strong interactions.