Stone mastic asphalt (SMA) applications within the scope of the Northern Marmara highway project, performance comparisons and cost analysis

In this study, the application of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) made between Odayeri Junction - Garipçe (Km:62+000–87+000) under the scope of "Northern Marmara Highway Project, Odayeri-Paşaköy Section Work" tendered by GDH (General Directorate of Highway) has been examined. The aggregates obtained from Çiftalan and Uskumruköy quarries and 6 different SMA surface layer mixtures which were made by using unmodified bitumen, polymer modified bitumen and granular rubber modified bitumen were examined. The experiments of materials which belong to SMA mixtures (aggregate, bitumen), Marshall Mixture Design values (i.e. air voids, voids between mineral aggregates and optimum bitumen quantity), rutting, indirect tensile strength test and fatigue resistance test results were compared. The suitability of the results with Technical Specification of Highways (published by the General Directorate of Highways) data and the effects of these values on the physical properties and performance of the asphalt layer were investigated. Moreover, a pavement model was proposed as an alternative to the pavement design of the road section (Odayeri Intersection-Garipçe) and the cost analysis of the surface (SMA) layers and the pavement models (project and proposed) were made. In 6 different SMA surface layer mixtures; the best performance against rutting and the imperfections caused by water showed the SMA mixture obtained by using polymer modified bitumen and Uskumruköy quarry. Rubber modified bituminous SMA mixtures obtained by using Uskumruköy quarry were found to have good results in terms of fatigue resistance by counteracting more repetitive load than unmodified bitumen SMA mixtures. It was discovered that the most advantageous price of the 4 different additive including SMA surface layer mixtures is SMA mixture obtained by using polymer modified bitumen and Uskumruköy quarry. As an alternative to the pavement design of the road section investigated, it is understood that the pavement cost will be saved if the proposed pavement model is applied.