Effect of moisture on the cohesion of asphalt mastics and bonding with surface of aggregates

Moisture damage of asphalt mixtures can be caused either by adhesive failure between asphalt binder and aggregate surface, or by cohesive failure within the asphalt mastic. There are limited studies on the effect of moisture on cohesive failure caused by asphalt mastic bonding deterioration measured by the Bitumen Bond Strength (BBS) test. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of different mineral fillers in asphalt mastic on moisture damage resistance using the BBS test. Results collected indicate that surface area and mineralogy of mineral fillers have significant effects on moisture damage resistance. Results also show that there is a significant effect of asphalt modification on moisture damage measurements. Thus, the concept of testing the mastic with the fillers and polymers intended for production of mixture appears to give an effective tool to predict the adhesion and cohesion performance before and after water conditioning.