MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF COLD BITUMINOUS MIXTURE UNDER EFFECTS OF STATIC AND REPEATED LOADS1

Abstract This paper presents the results of an experimental research aimed at analyzing the mechanical behavior of a cold bituminous mixture under effects of static and repeated loads. Initially, a Marshall mixture design was performed to determine the mixture design contents according to standard DNER (1994a). After obtaining the mixture design contents, nine bituminous specimens were molded and subjected to the following tests: resilient modulus, tensile strength by diametral compression, and fatigue. The Marshall stability, independent from the mixture content used, surpassed the minimum limit recommended by the service specification DNIT (2010a). Regarding the Marshall flow, the values found exceeded the required by the referred specification. The results obtained for the average tensile strength by diametral compression, resilient modulus and fatigue life of the bituminous mixture were, respectively, 0.47 MPa, in the range of 1530-1837 MPa, and lower than 1000 cycles (for most stress differences applied), which were lower than those commonly reported for hot mixtures.