Effects of material composition on mechanical and acoustic performance of poroelastic road surface (PERS)

Poroelastic road surface (PERS) is a type of low-noise pavement surface, which was derived from porous asphalt (PA). Because of its high elasticity, large air void content and an inter-connected air void structure, PERS provides excellent performance in traffic noise reduction. However, it also faces the challenging problem of poor ravelling resistance, which limits its more widespread application. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of various composition factors on the ravelling resistance of PERS so as to provide recommendations on appropriate PERS composition. To this end, 20 PERS mixtures with different compositions were designed and characterized after various stages of polishing applied by the Aachener-Raveling-Tester (ARTe). The ravelling resistance of PERS was quantified by measuring the material loss after polishing, while their acoustic performance and rutting resistance were also tested for validation purpose. It was concluded that binder content and degree of compaction are the critical factors affecting the ravelling resistance of PERS. To ensure sufficient durability, a minimum binder content of 15% and a minimum compaction degree of 98% were recommended.