Implementation of a static strength test for evaluating the rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures and its application for quality controls

There is great concern in Argentina about the rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures mainly related to the high temperatures in summer and the number of overloaded trucks. As a standard, the Marshall mix design procedure is used and improvements have been introduced in order to reduce the risks associated with this kind of damage. Nowadays, the exclusive use of crushed aggregates and harder bitumen are mandatory. Also, the proposed job formula must be tested with the wheel tracking device in order to check the rutting behavior of the mixture. However, during the construction stage, the tests that are carried out for the quality control are not directly related to this issue. Hence, a static strength test named as "the Kim test" has been proposed to be included as a routine using the same equipment and the type of specimens that are currently taken during the works after the asphalt mixture has been placed in the field. This paper presents a brief description of the fundamentals of the test, the correlation between this static strength property and the rutting resistance for different mixtures used in Argentina and the implementation of the Kim test as a rutting quality indicator.