Evaluación de alternativas de diseño de mezclas asfálticas en caliente, basadas en la metodología del polígono de vacíos

Abstract

In this degree proyect, the feasibility of implementing the void polygon method for the design of asphalt mixtures is analyzed, considering the materials located in the southern region. This method produces a significant saving of time and materials in the design of asphalt mixtures. To analyze on a better way the methodology, an application was developed using the Matlab numerical system. The application allows determining the characteristics of the mix based on the specific gravities of the aggregates, and additionally, this tool helps to obtain the combination of aggregates for the design, using up to four different materials. The design of a hot mix asphalt is based on the Marshall (conventional) and polygon voids methodologies, in order to compare their results. The polygon of voids methodology quickly provided the master formula, which when checked by means of 3 briquettes tested through the Marshall methodology, values very close to those calculated were obtained. A difference in the optimum asphalt percentage of 0.1% was obtained. Additionally, a comparison was made with two existing designs provided by the asphalt plant of the Municipality of Cuenca. Using the method of polygons of voids, a difference of 0.2% was found in the first case and in the second, similar optimum asphalt percentages were determined. Based on the laboratory tests performed, existing designs, and the tool developed, it is concluded that the void polygon method is a very useful tool in the design, production and quality control of asphalt mixtures, since it requires a much smaller number of samples, which has an impact on the time and cost of designing asphalt mixtures.