The TEAGE ageing method for asphalt mixtures

Exposure to the environmental conditions, particularly ultraviolet (UV) radiation, temperature, and precipitation, causes progressive and irreversible ageing of the in-service asphalt mixtures. Due to the ageing effect, the initial mechanical performance of the asphalt mixture degrades over time. Thus, the evaluation of the asphalt mixture's performance under aged conditions is essential to predict service performance better and avoid durability issues. This article presents a recently developed method for the accelerated ageing of compacted asphalt mixtures specimens in the laboratory called TEcnico accelerated AGEing (TEAGE). The TEAGE intends to simulate ageing due to the exposure to environmental conditions, allowing a relation with the field conditions (location) and exposure period (age). Four asphalt mixtures were selected and tested for stiffness and fatigue resistance under unaged and aged conditions by TEAGE. The obtained results highlighted the TEAGE potential to implement an accurate field ageing simulation. The aged mixtures presented a more stiff and brittle behaviour, revealed by an increase in stiffness modulus, a decrease in phase angle, and the reduction of the fatigue resistance. © 2020