Laboratory method to simulate short-term aging of hot mix asphalt in hydraulic engineering

Asphalt sealing elements for dams have to be watertight and able to absorb strains without suffering from cracking and thus losing their sealing ability. As an effect of the aging process, bitumen becomes stiffer and more brittle accompanied by a deterioration of the asphalt flexibility. Construction sites in hydraulic engineering are in many cases in remoted areas. This leads to extended material hauling times and strong short-term aging effects. This paper presents a newly developed short-term lab-aging procedure (HMAAT - Hot Mix Asphalt Aging Test) to assess the changing of the material characteristics as a consequence of extended material hauling times and related high mix temperatures.