Moisture Susceptibility of Asphalt Concrete Incorporating Pulverized Fine Aggregate as Filler

A. T. John; D. S. Toscanini; B. A. Robert

A. T. John Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Niger Delta University, Nigeria
D. S. Toscanini Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Niger Delta University, Nigeria
B. A. Robert Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Niger Delta University, Nigeria

Keywords: moisture damage, tensile strength ratio, asphalts, filler, pulverization

Abstract

Moisture damage is a leading cause of premature failure in asphalt pavements, often resulting from the stripping of the binder film and loss of aggregate–binder adhesion. The use of suitable filler materials can enhance the resistance of asphalt concrete to such damage. This study investigated the moisture susceptibility of asphalt concrete incorporating pulverized sand as a filler, with a focus on comparing the performance of white and brown sand powders. The main objective was to evaluate their influence on the tensile strength ratio (TSR) under both dry and saturated conditions. Asphalt concrete samples were produced with varying filler contents of 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9% by means of the Marshall mix design technique. Indirect tensile strength (ITS) was measured according to standard procedures, and the TSR was calculated following AASHTO T-283 (2003) guidelines, which established a minimum TSR of 80% for mixtures to be considered resistant to moisture damage. The results showed that ITS values under dry conditions were consistently higher than under saturated conditions, confirming the detrimental impact of moisture. Mixtures containing white sand powder demonstrated superior performance, with TSR values consistently above 99% and peaking at 134% for the 3% filler content. In contrast, mixtures with brown sand powder exhibited inconsistent behavior, with TSR values falling below the 80% threshold at 3% and 9% filler contents, indicating susceptibility to stripping. These differences were attributed to the mineralogical properties and surface characteristics of the sands. Based on these findings, it is recommended that white sand powder be used as a filler in asphalt concrete to enhance durability and improve resistance to moisture-induced damage.

References

Adwar, N. N., & Albayati, A. H. (2024). Enhancing Moisture Damage Resistance in Asphalt Concrete: The Role of Mix Variables, Hydrated Lime and Nanomaterials. Infrastructures, 9(10), 173.
Albayati, N., & Ismael, M. Q. (2025). Moisture damage in asphalt mixtures: A review of the causes, testing, and mitigating methods. Advances in Civil and Architectural Engineering, 16(30), 144–164. https://doi.org/10.13167/2025.30.9
Alsheyab, M. A., Khasawneh, M. A., Abualia, A., & Sawalha, A. (2024). A critical review of fatigue cracking in asphalt concrete pavement: a challenge to pavement durability. Innovative infrastructure solutions, 9(10), 386.
Alyousef, R., Abbass, W., Aslam, F., & Gillani, S. A. A. (2023). Characterization of high-performance concrete using limestone powder and supplementary fillers in binary and ternary blends under different curing regimes. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 18, e02058.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (2003). Resistance of Compacted Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) to Moisture-Induced Damage (T-283). Washington, D.C.: AASHTO.
Asphalt Institute. (1994). Mix design methods for asphalt concrete and other hot-mix types (MS-2, 6th ed.). Lexington, KY: Asphalt Institute.
ASTM International. (2014). ASTM C136/C136M-14: Standard test method for sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregates. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/C0136_C0136M-14.
ASTM International. (2015). ASTM D6925: Standard test method for preparation and determination of the relative density of asphalt mix specimens by means of the Superpave gyratory compactor. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/D6925-15
Chen, X., Wen, W., Zhou, J., Zhou, X., Ning, Y., Liang, Z., & Ma, Z. (2022). Research on the interaction capability and microscopic interfacial mechanism between asphalt-binder and steel slag aggregate-filler. Coatings, 12(12), 1871.
Chen, Y., Xu, S., Tebaldi, G., & Romeo, E. (2022). Role of mineral filler in asphalt mixture. Road materials and pavement design, 23(2), 247-286.
Cong, P., Chen, Z., & Ge, W. (2023). Influence of moisture on the migration of asphalt components and the adhesion between asphalt binder and aggregate. Construction and Building Materials, 385, 131513.
Gao, J., Liu, P., Wu, Y., Xu, Y., & Lu, H. (2021). Moisture damage of asphalt mixture and its evaluation under the long-term soaked duration. International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology, 14(5), 607-614.
Jiang, D., Li, X., Lv, Y., Zhou, M., He, C., Jiang, W., ... & Li, C. (2020). Utilization of limestone powder and fly ash in blended cement: Rheology, strength and hydration characteristics. Construction and Building Materials, 232, 117228.
Khelil, N., Ouali, M. O., & Meziane, L. (2023). On the use of fine dune sand in Reactive Powder Concrete: Effect on resistance, water absorption and UPV properties. Construction and Building Materials, 388, 131684.
Kumlai, S., Jitsangiam, P., & Nikraz, H. (2022). Assessments of moisture damage resistance of asphalt concrete mixtures and asphalt mastic with various mineral fillers. Transportation Engineering, 7, 100106.
Liang, Y., Bai, T., Zhou, X., Wu, F., Chenxin, C., Peng, C., ... & Wang, X. (2023). Assessing the effects of different fillers and moisture on asphalt mixtures’ mechanical properties and performance. Coatings, 13(2), 288.
Little, D. N., Allen, D. H., & Bhasin, A. (2017). Chemical and mechanical processes influencing adhesion and moisture damage in hot mix asphalt pavements. In Modeling and design of flexible pavements and materials (pp. 123-186). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Luo, L., Yang, S. H., Oeser, M., & Liu, P. (2024). Moisture damage mechanism of asphalt mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement binder: A novel molecular dynamics study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 475, 143711.
Mohanty, A. K., Vivekanandhan, S., Pin, J. M., & Misra, M. (2018). Composites from renewable and sustainable resources: Challenges and innovations. Science, 362(6414), 536-542.
Nassar, M. M., Alzebdeh, K. I., Pervez, T., Al‐Hinai, N., & Munam, A. (2021). Progress and challenges in sustainability, compatibility, and production of eco‐composites: A state‐of‐art review. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 138(43), 51284.
Omar, H. A., Yusoff, N. I. M., Mubaraki, M., & Ceylan, H. (2020). Effects of moisture damage on asphalt mixtures. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English Edition), 7(5), 600–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtte.2020.07.001
Segura, J., Aponte, D., Pelà, L., & Roca, P. (2020). Influence of recycled limestone filler additions on the mechanical behaviour of commercial premixed hydraulic lime based mortars. Construction and Building Materials, 238, 117722.
Wang, F., Xiao, Y., Chen, Z., Cui, P., Liu, J., & Wang, N. (2022). Morphological characteristics of mineral filler and their influence on active adhesion between aggregates and bitumen. Construction and Building Materials, 323, 126520.
Wang, H., Guo, P., & Tan, Y. (2022). Assessing the effects of different fillers and moisture on asphalt mixtures’ mechanical properties and performance. Coatings, 12(2), 288. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12020288
Younsi, A., Bensaada, A., Allout, N., Smail, H., & Choungache, B. (2022). Experimental investigation and evaluation of the compactness and moisture damage of asphalt mixes incorporating dune and river sand. Studies in Engineering and Exact Sciences, 5(1), 760–774. https://doi.org/10.54021/seesv5n1-047
Zeng, D., Li, R., Fang, C., & Lv, H. (2021). Effect of filler properties on the hydrothermal ageing of bituminous mastics. Road Materials and Pavement Design, 22(sup1), S280–S295. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2021.1903975.