Abstract:
Over ninety percent of the total road network in India, including the
airfield pavements, are flexible pavements with black-top surfaces. The construction
of wearing and binder courses of a flexible pavement require high energy consumption
during heating of bitumen and aggregate, with consequent giant emission of
greenhouse gases during the preparation of hot-mixed bituminous mixtures. Earlier,
in flexible pavements, the use of bitumen emulsion was restricted to only spray
applications and as dust palliatives, but over the years, with the development of new
types, grades, specifications, and availability of improved construction equipment
and practices, emulsion-based cold mix technology offers a wide range of solutions.
Judicial selection and appropriate use of these technologies can yield significant
economic benefits, environmental benefits, and energy security as far as construction
and maintenance of roads are concerned. Hence, this paper aimed to compare the
strength, durability, and performance of a cold mix semi-dense bituminous concrete
(CMSDBC) and hot mix semi-dense bituminous concrete (HMSDBC) pertaining
to competency. Materials for the preparation of representative samples are coarse
aggregate, fine aggregate, and cement as a filler, in suitable proportions mixed with
bitumen or slow-setting cationic bitumen emulsion (where applicable). Tests like
Marshall stability, Indirect tensile strength, moisture susceptibility, and rut depth
using wheel tracker device were carried out according to standard guidelines. The
results showed that CMSDBC yielded significant values, which are comparable with
HMSDBC. It infers that CMSDBC is capable to be exercised in the practice for low
traffic, low rainfall, moderate and cold climate regions.
