Design and maintenance criteria for Saudi bituminous concrete mixes

Premature rutting has occurred on a number of highways recently built in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Communications, in an effort to solve the problem, has initiated a number of studies and started to replace affected pavements. The aim of this study is to identify possible factors which may relate to rutting and to recommend maintenance and repair criteria for existing rutted pavements. The study covers nineteen sections of eleven major highways. Results indicate a direct relationship between rutting and the percentage of air voids; the percentage of voids in mineral aggregate; the percentage of voids filled with asphalt, resilient modulus at 25°C; and bitumen viscosity. These properties were used as bases for maintenance criteria as well as criteria for the design of mixes to resist rutting on Saudi roads. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.