Impact of curing on the volumetric and mechanical properties of cold bitumen emulsion mix

Cold bitumen emulsion mix (CBEM) is an emerging sustainable material for constructing the base or surface layer of flexible pavements, reducing energy consumption and global warming effects compared to hot mix asphalt. The main challenges associated with CBEM are low initial strength, moisture susceptibility, etc. This is primarily due to water encapsulation. The curing process allows the water to evaporate gradually over time, improving mechanical properties. This study investigates CBEM’s volumetric and mechanical properties under different curing conditions. CBEMs were prepared using low (50 blows) and high (75 blows) compaction efforts and cured at 25, 40, and 55 °C for 1 to 28 days. In volumetric characteristics, the air voids and voids in mineral aggregates decreased slightly with curing, while total binder volume decreased. Effective binder volume and voids filled with binder increased slightly, then decreased. The mechanical properties, i.e., Marshal Stability, Marshal Quotient, Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), and Moisture Susceptibility parameters like the Indirect Tensile Strength Ratio (ITSR) and Retained Marshal Stability (RMS), were found to improve over time at each curing temperature. Using a high curing temperature further improved the mechanical characteristics of CBEM. The curing process was decelerated in case of CBEM prepared by high compactive efforts compared to CBEM prepared by low compactive efforts. The Michaelis-Menten model can be used to analyze moisture loss growth and the development of mechanical properties over time. The strength-maturity model can be developed by using ITS as strength parameters. There was a strong correlation between all mechanical characteristics and moisture loss.