Abstract
The presence of water on pavement causes loss of strength and moisture damage. Therefore, cracks and stripping occur on pavement over time. Pavements in the provinces on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are exposed to salty water as a result of overflow of sea due to atmospheric conditions in winter. For example, if wind blows towards the land, water level in sea rises and floods the land. In this study, effects of the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea waters which have different salinity rates on hot mix asphalt were investigated. Both stripping (Nicholson, California and Texas Boiling) and adhesion (Vialit) tests were carried out in order to evaluate the adhesion between aggregates and bitumen in samples which were exposed to Aegean and Mediterranean Sea waters which have different salinity rates. According to the test results, it was observed that the adhesion between aggregates and bitumen decreased with the increase in salinity. The unconditioned indirect tensile strengths of the hot mix asphalt exposed to pure water, Aegean Sea water and Mediterranean Sea water were determined as 798, 730 and 687 kPa respectively, while the conditioned indirect tensile strengths were determined as 725, 478 and 438 kPa. Also, the tensile strength ratios of hot mix asphalt conditioned with pure water, Aegean and Mediterranean Sea water were determined as %91, %68 and %60 respectively. The tensile strength ratios of the samples conditioned with the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea waters have not met the specification limit value. It has been determined that Aegean and Mediterranean Sea waters which have different salinity rates damage to hot mix asphalt. Therefore, it is suggested that, certain features of pavements which built near the seaside should be improved. In literature, effect of solutions formed from the components of sea water on samples prepared in laboratory has been examined, but natural sea water has not been used on samples directly. This circumstance shows the originality of study.
Thanks
This research received no financial supports from any funding agency in public, commercial or non-profit sectors.