Effect of Bitumen visco-elastic

characteristic on Asphalt Mixes

Bitumen is responsible for the visco-elastic behaviour
characteristic of all bituminous mixes.
It therefore plays a large part in determining many
aspects of road performance such as resistance to
permanent deformation and cracking.
In general, the proportion of any induced strain in a
bituminous mix that is attributable to viscous flow, i.e.
non-recoverable, increases with both loading time and
temperature.
This effect can be illustrated in Fig. 10.1a and 10.1b.
 Effect of Bitumen visco-elastic
characteristic on Asphalt Mixes
Fig. 10.1a shows the
response of a bituminous
material to a simple
creep test.
The strain resulting from
the applied loading
shows an instantaneous
elastic response followed
by a gradual increase in
strain with time until the
load is removed.
 Effect of Bitumen visco-elastic
characteristic on Asphalt Mixes

The change in strain with time is caused by the viscous

behaviour of the material.
On removal of the load, the elastic strain is recovered
instantaneously and some additional recovery occurs
with time.
This is known as delayed elasticity.
Ultimately, a permanent residual strain remains, which is
irrecoverable and is directly caused by viscous
behaviour.
 Effect of Bitumen visco-elastic
characteristic on Asphalt Mixes

Fig 10.1b shows

the response to a
load pulse induced
in an element of a
bituminous material
due to moving
traffic loads.
 Effect of Bitumen visco-elastic
characteristic on Asphalt Mixes

Here it is not possible to distinguish between the two

components of elastic response, but the small
permanent strain and larger elastic strain are shown.
Although the permanent strain is small for a single load
application, its accumulation over millions of load
applications will result in surface deformation.
More deformation occurs at high ambient temperatures
and where traffic is slow moving or stationary.