Asphalt Technology in Chile: Leading Research and Practice

When it comes to asphalt technology in Chile, the state of the practice is very empirical. With traditional testing, binders are specified. Using the Marshall method, mixtures are designed. The majority of mixes used currently are dense graded. Using procedures based on American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 93, flexible pavement design is carried out. With the expectation of important changes, important research projects are currently underway. One such project is a large one focusing on optimizing mixtures for overlays. Advanced rheological and performance characteristics of binders and mixtures are involved. Another such project is for the implementation of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) in Chile; this includes developing an initial database for traffic, weather, and material characterization for mechanistic pavement design. Modeling of indentation testing on asphalt binders, research on foamed asphalts, and distress model calibration efforts are among some other research initiatives.