Experimental study of the effect of filler on the ductility of filler-bitumen mastics

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 189; pp. 1045 - 1053
• Main Authors: Pereira, L., Freire, A.C., Sá da Costa, M., Antunes, V., Quaresma, L., Micaelo, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 20.11.2018
• Subjects: Bituminous mastic; Ductility; Filler; Suspension’s rheological behaviour; Suspension’s rheological behaviour; Bituminous mastic; Ductility; Filler
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.09.063

•The force-ductility curve is a function of the normalized filler concentration value.•The normalized post-peak deformation energy is proposed for the ductility test analysis.•Normalized filler concentration values close to 0.80 induce a clear reduction in ductility.•Waste materials showed a similar effect on the ductility of filler-bitumen mastics. This research investigated the effect of filler on the ductility of filler-bitumen mastics, as a surrogate of the cohesive behaviour and the tensile properties. Various fillers (industrial products, mineral fillers or waste materials) were mixed with one paving grade bitumen, in various filler-to-bitumen ratios, and tested under the force-ductility test. The force-elongation curve obtained is affected by the constituents, but the peak force and total deformation energy are a mainly a function of the normalized filler concentration value. Moreover, the effect of the filler type and concentration on the specimen’s ductility is better perceived from the normalized post-peak deformation energy. Normalized filler concentration values close to 0.80 induce a clear reduction in ductility.