ACTION TAKEN BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO IDENTIFY AND REDUCE THE STRIPPING POTENTIAL OF ASPHALT MIXES (WITH DISCUSSION)

Over the past few years, the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (SDHPT) has experienced several major asphalt mix problems in which water damage was one of the primary causes of failures. Stripping of asphalt coating from the aggregate has been found present in a number of older pavements still in service, and this will result in a shortened service life. The Department has sponsored several research projects to investigate the problem of water damage and solutions to the problem. As a result of information obtained from these studies, the Department has recently issued guidelines to be followed by the Districts in evaluating stripping potential of asphalt mixes and reducing this stripping potential. Texas is a diverse State as far as climate and material sources are concerned.