What follows are descriptions of a few applications of SMA-type asphalt mixes for pavements on steel bridge decks. It has been noted before that this type of bridge construction poses the greatest challenge for the asphalt pavement.
13.2.1.1 Bridge in Roosteren, the Netherlands
In 2005, in Roosteren, the Netherlands, an experimental SMA pavement was made with mastic containing a binder that was highly modified with elastomer (Pen@25°C = 50/70, SP > 90°C) instead of typical mastic asphalt (von Brochove et al., 2008). Demanding requirements, as follows, were required of the SMA mix to compare it with mastic asphalt:
• Resistance to permanent deformation measured by the triaxial compression method after EN 12697-25
• Cracking resistance by the method based on the semicircular bending test at 0°C and 5°C after EN 12697-44
• Fatigue limit, four-point bending test, prismatic sample (4PB-PR) at 5°C after EN 12697-24
• Stiffness, four-point bending test, prismatic sample (4PB-PR) at 5°C after EN 12697-26
The test results proved that the designed mix had a very high fatigue limit. It was laid down in one layer with gritting performed. The grading of the SMA aggregate mix is shown in Figure 13.1.
