ABSTRACT
Polymer-Containing Composites ................................................. 138 11.3 Conclusion ................................................................................... 144 Acknowledgments ................................................................................ 145 Keywords .............................................................................................. 145 References ............................................................................................. 145
11.1 INTRODUCTION
The constant interest in elucidation of new possibilities to increase the durability of asphalt concrete pavements continues to persist for several decades. Such pavements are composites consisting of gravel, sand, and the polymer-containing composite (bitumen) in rationally chosen ratios. According to modern notions, it is assumed that the durability of asphalt concrete pavements is determined by the appearance of numerous major trunk cracks in the pavement. This conclusion is confirmed, in particular, in numerous reports (over 130), presented at a special conference devoted exclusively to the problem of cracking in pavements [2]. It was shown earlier and in reports of the conference that a certain increase in the durability of pavements can be achieved by introducing synthetic rubbers or crushed technical rubber in the bituminous binder of elastomers. However, very important question about a quantitative determination of the optimum size of elastomers particles introduced into the bitumen for providing of maximum durability of pavements, until recently, remained open. The theoretical solution of above problem is presented below.
