The main object of this paper is to provide the design engineer with a simple procedure to predict rutting in asphalt concrete without the need of a sophisticated test set up which may be difficult to acquire. A rutting model in a power form relating permanent strain and number of load repetitions was adopted. The validity of the model for asphalt concrete using a consolidation device, modified to accommodate asphalt concrete samples, was checked. The effects of asphalt content, temperature and stress level for two aggregate gradations on rutting parameters were investigated. The model was found to be valid for asphalt concrete under the simplified test method. The variations of the resilient characteristic of the asphalt concrete, represented by a defined material's modulus, with test and material's variables were studied. A relation between rutting intersection parameter, material's modulus and the stress level was established for the materials used in this study. Slope rutting parameter ranged from 0.36 to 0.62 with no specific trend correlating it with material's modulus or test variables. The model was employed to predict rutting in asphalt concrete in pavements. (A)
Abstract