WET-DRY INDIRECT TENSILE TEST FOR EVALUATING MOISTURE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ASPHALT MIXTURES. INTERIM REPORT

This report contains a description of the development and use of the Wet-Dry Indirect Tensile Test to evaluate stripping or moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixtures. Tests were performed on eight mixtures of which five had stripped in the field and three had not. Each mixture was tested to determine whether the results could be used to differentiate between stripping and nonstripping mixtures. Based on these tests and other field testing it was tentatively concluded that mixtures with less than 70 percent retained strength are moisture susceptible and require treatment. Test results indicate the valuable information is provided by the Wet-Dry Indirect Tensile Test. The test can be performed either in the laboratory during mixture design or on the field-mixed materials. In general, the Wet-Dry Indirect Tensile Test offers good potential for use in detecting moisture susceptible mixtures before they are placed in the field. (Author)