Fine-aggregate matrices (FAMs) are a relevant constituent of asphalt mixtures. Several FAM mix design, fabrication, and characterization protocols have been recently developed to investigate the behavior of such materials. However, there is a lack of experimental evidence on how to define the most appropriate maximum aggregate size (MAS) to fabricate FAM specimens. The focus of this paper is to develop such experimental evidence. Three asphalt concretes (ACs) and their corresponding FAMs with different MASs were tested to determine their stiffness and fatigue properties in uniaxial cyclic tests. In addition, the AC microstructures were scanned using X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and analyzed using image analysis techniques. The combination of the AC microstructure assessed by micro-CT with the mechanical characteristics of the mixtures allowed the determination of the most representative MASs for the fabrication of isolated FAM samples. The key conclusion from this study was that ACs with nominal maximum aggregate sizes of 19.0, 12.5, and 9.5 mm are better characterized by FAMs with a MAS of 2.36 mm.
KimY.LeeH. J.LittleD. N.KimY. R.A Simple Testing Method to Evaluate Fatigue Fracture and Damage Performance of Asphalt Mixture. Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, Vol. 75, 2006, pp. 755–788.
2.
UnderwoodB. S.Multiscale Modeling Approach for Asphalt Concrete and its Implications on Oxidative Aging. In Advances in Asphalt Materials: Road and Pavement Construction (HuangS.-C.Di BenedettoH., eds.), Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, 2015, pp. 273–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100269-8.00009-X.
3.
SousaP.KassemE.MasadE.LittleD.New Design Method of Fine Aggregates Mixtures and Automated Method for Analysis of Dynamic Mechanical Characterization Data. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 41, 2013, pp. 216–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.11.038.
4.
HeY.AlaviM. Z.JonesD.HarveyJ.Proposing a Solvent-Free Approach to Evaluate the Properties of Blended Binders in Asphalt Mixes Containing High Quantities of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement and Recycled Asphalt Shingles. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 114, 2016, pp. 172–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.03.074.
5.
NgA. K. Y.ValeA. C.GiganteA. C.FaxinaA. L.Determination of the Binder Content of Fine Aggregate Matrices Prepared with Modified Binders. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 30, 2018, pp. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002160.
6.
AmelianS.KimY. R.OsmariP. H.AragãoF. T. S.BrazD.CostaR. F.Development of a Volumetric Mix Design Approach for Fine Aggregate Matrix (FAM) and Validation with Micro-CT Method. Presented at 98th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., No. 19-01178, 2019.
7.
Enríquez-LeónA. J.SouzaT. D.AragãoF. T. S.PereiraA. M. B.NogueiraL. P.Characterization of the Air Void Content of Fine Aggregate Matrices Within Asphalt Concrete Mixtures. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 300, 2021, pp. 124214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124214.
8.
de SouzaT. D.VieiraL. H.Enríquez-LeónA. J.AragãoF. T. S.LeiteL. F. M.An Experimental Procedure to Determine the Surface Area of Fine Aggregate Particles in Fine Aggregate Matrix Mixtures: Development and Validation. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 268, 2021, pp. 121123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121123.
9.
VieiraL. H.SouzaT. D.Enríquez-LeónA. J.AragãoF. T. S.GomesO. F. M.LeiteL. F. M.RezendeL. R.Experimental Testing and Analysis Procedure to Determine the Apparent Film Thickness of Asphalt Binder in Fine Aggregate Matrix Mixtures. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2021. 2675: 166–179.
10.
Grasson FilhoA.FaxinaA. L.Evaluation of the Specific Surface Method as a Tool to Determine the Binder Content of Fine-Aggregate Matrices. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2021, pp. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003483.
11.
FreireR. A.BabadopulosL.Castelo BrancoV.BhasinA.Aggregate Maximum Nominal Sizes’ Influence on Fatigue Damage Performance Using Different Scales. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 29, No. 8, 2017, pp. 04017067. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001912.
12.
ZhuJ.AlaviM. Z.HarveyJ.SunL.HeY.Evaluating Fatigue Performance of Fine Aggregate Matrix of Asphalt Mix Containing Recycled Asphalt Shingles. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 139, 2017, pp. 203–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.02.060.
13.
DaiQ.YouZ.Prediction of Creep Stiffness of Asphalt Mixture with Micromechanical Finite-Element and Discrete-Element Models. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Vol. 133, No. 2, 2007, pp. 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:2(163).
14.
OsmariP. H.de SouzaR. C.do NascimentoL. A. H.AragãoF. T. S.Evaluation of the Relationship Between the Fatigue Performance of FAM and AC Mixtures Based on Volumetric Characteristics and on the S-VECD Theory. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 265, 2020, pp. 120294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120294.
15.
KimY.LittleD. N.LyttonR. L.Fatigue and Healing Characterization of Asphalt Mixtures. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2003, pp. 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2003)15:1(75).
16.
BhasinA.LittleD. N.BommavaramR.VasconcelosK.A Framework to Quantify the Effect of Healing in Bituminous Materials Using Material Properties. Road Materials and Pavement Design, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2008, pp. 219–242. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2008.9690167.
17.
KarkiP. Computational and Experimental Characterization of Bituminous Composites Based on Experimentally Determined Properties of Constituents. M.Sc. Thesis. UNL, University of Nebraska Lincoln, 2010.
18.
NabizadehH.HaghshenasH. F.KimY. R.AragãoF. T. S.Effects of Rejuvenators on High-RAP Mixtures Based on Laboratory Tests of Asphalt Concrete (AC) Mixtures and Fine Aggregate Matrix (FAM) Mixtures. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 152, 2017, pp. 65–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.06.101.
19.
ArambulaE.MasadE.Epps-MartinA.Moisture Susceptibility of Asphalt Mixtures with Known Field Performance. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2007. 2001: 20–28.
20.
TongY.LuoR.LyttonR. L.Modeling Water Vapor Diffusion in Pavement and its Influence on Fatigue Crack Growth of Fine Aggregate Mixture. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2013. 2373: 71–80.
21.
TongY.LuoR.LyttonR.Moisture and Aging Damage Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures Using the Repeated Direct Tension Test Method. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 5, 2015, pp. 397–410. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2015.1007234.
22.
KarkiP.KimY. R.LittleD. N.Dynamic Modulus Prediction of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures Through Computational Micromechanics. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2015. 2507: 1–9.
23.
KarkiP.BhasinA.UnderwoodB. S.Fatigue Performance Prediction of Asphalt Composites Subjected to Cyclic Loading with Intermittent Rest Periods. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2016. 2576: 72–82.
24.
MotamedA.BhasinA.IzadiA.Fracture Properties and Fatigue Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Binders. Southwest Region University Transportation Center, College Station, TX, 2012.
25.
KarkiP.An Integrated Approach to Measure and Model Fatigue Damage and Healing in Asphalt Composites. Doctoral dissertation. University of Texas, Austin, 2014.
26.
SanchezD. B.GrenfellJ.AireyG.CaroS.Evaluation of the Degradation of Fine Asphalt-Aggregate Mixtures Containing High Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Contents. Road Materials and Pavement Design, Vol. 18, 2017, pp. 91–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2017.1304250.
27.
ImS.YouT.BanH.KimY. R.Multiscale Testing-Analysis of Asphaltic Materials Considering Viscoelastic and Viscoplastic Deformation. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Vol. 18, No. 9, 2017, pp. 783–797. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2015.1066002.
28.
MartonoW.BahiaH. U.D’AngeloJ.Effect of Testing Geometry on Measuring Fatigue of Asphalt Binders and Mastics. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 19, No. 9, 2007, pp. 746–752. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2007)19:9(746).
29.
AragãoF. T. S.LeeJ.KimY. R.KarkiP.Material-Specific Effects of Hydrated Lime on the Properties and Performance Behaviour of Asphalt Mixtures and Asphaltic Pavements. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 24, No. 4, 2010, pp. 538–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.10.005.
30.
AragãoF. T. S.KimY. R.KarkiP.LittleD. N.Semi - Empirical, Analytical, and Computational Predictions of Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2010. 2181: 19–27.
31.
UnderwoodB. S.KimY. R.Microstructural Investigation of Asphalt Concrete for Performing Multiscale Experimental Studies. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Vol. 14, No. 5, 2013, pp. 498–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2012.746689.
32.
AASHTO. M 323-17 Standard Specification for Superpave Volumetric Mix Design. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C., 2017.
33.
AASHTO. T 342 Standard Method of Test for Determining Dynamic Modulus of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C., 2019.
34.
AASTHO. TP 107 Standard Method of Test for Determining the Damage Characteristic Curve and Failure Criterion Using the Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT) Cyclic Fatigue Test. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C., 2018.
SchindelinJ.Arganda-CarrerasI.FriseE.KaynigV.LongairM.PietzschT.PreibischS., et al. Fiji: An Open-Source Platform for Biological-Image Analysis. Nature Methods, Vol. 9, No. 7, 2012, pp. 676–682. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.2019.
37.
BrocherJ. The BioVoxxel Image Processing and Analysis Toolbox. Proc., EuBIAS Conference. Institut Curie, Paris, France, 2015. Plugin. https://www.biovoxxel.de/.
