Experience of use of warm mix asphalt in Lithuania

Abstract

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies allow to reduce hot mix asphalt (HMA) production and compaction temperatures without compromising asphalt mix workability and its physical mechanical properties. The use of WMA technologies is no new for countries such as USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark et al. During the last 10 years large amount of experimental laboratory and field researches were carried out with different WMA technologies around the world. Possibility for the use of WMA mixtures in Lithuania have been also analysed and evaluated recently. This article represents the short overview of different WMA technologies, advantages and disadvantages of these technologies compared to traditional HMA. It also presents WMA experimental laboratory researches done in Lithuania during the last 3 years by Road Research Institute of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Main goal of these researches were to define optimal amount of chosen WMA additives and their influence to physical mechanical properties of different type asphalt mixes (usually produced in Lithuania). Water bearing, organic, and chemical additives were used to lower asphalt mixes production and compaction temperatures. After analysing and systemizing data obtained from laboratory tests the most suitable technologies were chosen and in autumn of 2009 three experimental road sections were made by using these technologies. This article also presents field researches done in these three trial sections. Analysis and evaluation of WMA technologies used for road sections is given in this article along with recommendations for the further research and use of WMA in Lithuania.