Implementation of High Air Voids Asphalt Mixtures on Trial Section—Performance Evaluation Case Study

Asphalt mixtures designed with an elevated air void content are intended to lower traffic noise as well as to improve traffic safety and quality by improving rainwater evacuation through the layer of the surface mixture, not just on top of it. While undoubtedly mixtures with high air voids have significant advantages, the durability of such mixes could be an issue. In the research presented in this paper, a performance evaluation case study of asphalt mixes with medium and high air void content was investigated, in both the laboratory and the trial section. The study assessed asphalt mixtures intended for so-called quiet pavements in terms of selected properties (such as water and frost resistance, low temperature cracking, fatigue life, and water permeability) that significantly impact the durability of the pavement surface course under traffic loads and climatic conditions. Five different mixtures were designed, which differed in the proportion of individual components, grain size, asphalt content, and void content. The conducted research indicates that mixtures with increased void content may exhibit lower durability parameters. In addition, the surface drainage performance can be effectively managed by selecting the appropriate mixture type, maximum aggregate size, and target air void content, depending on the functional requirements for macrotexture and pavement type. This should be considered both in the mix design process, by using the best possible materials and conducting additional testing, and also when selecting the mixture type to find an optimum between durability and acoustic parameters of the pavement layer.