ABSTRACT
This study analyses the advantages of using design methods for bituminous mixtures that consider in-service conditions of pavements. A volumetric design approach was used to study the effect of the compaction energy on the properties of two mixtures, an AC 20 and a SMA 12.5. Laboratory performance tests were performed characterize water sensitivity, workability, permanent deformation resistance, stiffness and resistance to fatigue cracking. The results obtained from the design of the bituminous mixtures, as well as the performance tests and the selected in-service factors, allowed setting design compaction energy values for each mixture. The results obtained for the evaluated blends show that the proposed design method leads to an increase of 20% to 30% in the performance indicators. The results show that with negligible cost increase it is possible to improve performance indicators of the mixtures, increasing the pavement life span and reducing the maintenance costs.
