In most cases, stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixtures placed in thin layers and subjected to stress develop early cracks (potentially resulting from being improperly affixed to the underlying layer, placed over previously cracked asphalt pavement, or placed over Portland cement concrete slabs). However, the filler used in SMA production is very influential on the performance of the mix. Fillers used in this type of mixture have a low plastic index or are inert (calcium carbonate or lime), so it is important to understand the effect of each material on the possible fissuring and cracking process of the SMA mixture. The objective of this study is to present an evaluation of the behavior of SMA asphalt mixtures with different types of filler and at different temperatures using the semicircular bend (SCB) fracture energy test. This research compares results between fracture energy and different types of filler in SMA asphalt mixtures at temperatures ranging from −10 to 25 °C.

A poor bond between the layers constituting an asphalt pavement can cause structural problems such as slippage, delamination, and top-down cracking. These are consequences of the pavement being unable to act as a continuous element and to properly transmit the effects of the traffic to underlying layers. The aim of this research was to characterize an asphalt emulsion with low asphalt content using the Mexican standard and to evaluate its performance through the Laboratorio de Caminos de Barcelona (LCB) shear testing. Cationic slow setting (SS) and cationic rapid setting (RS) asphalt emulsions were tested by varying the asphalt contents, dosages, and cure times. The slow set emulsions presented a greater fracture energy than did the rapid set emulsions; a dose of 0.3 L/m² provided the same level of resistance as a 0.5 L/m² dose; and a 55% asphalt content provided greater resistance than the 60% asphalt content.

This research presents an analysis of the frequencies and vibration modes of the structure of the superficial seiches of Lake Chapala using mathematical modelling and measurements. The HAMSOM model was run with wind fields from coastal meteorological stations and for different lake storage levels. The lake water level measurements were carried out in two campaigns in 2003. An analysis of the surface seiches in the lake was performed using the fast Fourier transform method. A spectral analysis of lake water level measurements reveals seiches with periods close to 5.9, 3, 2, and 1.5 h. A comparison with the periods calculated by the HAMSOM model indicates that these periods correspond to superficial seiches of the fundamental longitudinal mode of the lake and the subsequent three modes. The lake has undergone important changes in its storage level over time. Therefore, we modelled it with storage levels from the isobaths 90 to 95 m and found that surface seiche periods decreased to 5.2 h.

Reclaimed asphalt pavements (RAP) provide economic and environmental benefits. In recent decades, their use has increased, but rheological properties are affected by RAP aging, increasing stiffness, cracking, and susceptibility to water. To counteract these effects, rejuvenating agents are used, but they must be properly dosed to design quality mixtures. Therefore, different binders were analyzed, including virgin binder (VBB), binder modified by SBS polymer (MB), AC-RAP, binder softened using a rejuvenating agent, and binders softened with doses (15%, 30%, and 45%) of AC-RAP. The rheological properties were evaluated by dynamic shear rheometry (DSR) and beam-bending rheometry (BBR) tests, while the linear amplitude sweep (LAS) test was used to measure fatigue cracking and the multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test was used to measure rutting. A mixing chart was constructed based on a high temperature AC-RAP to satisfy the performance grade (PG 76-22). The results showed that softened binders become flexible, but when AC-RAP is added, they turn stiff and behave better than MB. Moreover, combining a rejuvenating agent and AC-RAP reduces the aging stiffness of RAP, improving its rheological properties without compromising the rutting or cracking resistance.

Mode I fracture (tensile type) is the common cracking mode of asphalt pavements, which is caused by thermal cyclic loading or traffic. Some studies allow the analysis of the fracture modes by means of standardized tests, some of which are limited, difficult, with little repeatability or do not generate an adequate tension state. In this paper, mode I fracture toughness of asphalt mixtures with symmetric geometry specimens at intermediate temperature is evaluated. Experimental results from direct tension test and simulations on asphalt mix specimens subjected to intermediate temperatures of 10, 20 and 30 °C, mode I load rates (0.5, 1 and 2 mm/min) and notches (2 and 3 cm) were compared to find the variables that reflect the operating conditions of the asphalt mix. Results showed that shear stresses are 8.12% lower in the simulations with respect to the tests, while the load-deformation curves show 30% and 35% variation, where the temperature of 20 °C, the notch of 2 cm and the loading speed of 1 mm/min are the conditions that best represent the stress state of the test; moreover, it manages to consider the elastic and viscous components of the material.