Laboratory Characterization of Bituminous Materials Used for Asphaltic Plug Joints

This paper presents the results of a study conducted to develop test methods for the characterization of materials used in the construction of asphaltic plug joints. Based on the analysis of the main distress modes which are encountered in the field, it was considered relevant to test whole asphalt mixtures in the compression mode and the binding mastic only by direct tension. A special emphasis was placed upon the development of specific laboratory protocols for the preparation of test specimens. Failure data obtained on a standard set of materials at various temperatures and speeds of loading proved to be repeatable and coherent with theoretical expectations. As a result of temperature increase and/or speed of loading decrease, strains at failure tend to increase, while significant reduction of stress and strain ratios at failure which appear to be linked to the kind of rheological behavior of the binding mastic and hence to failure mechanisms