Laboratory evaluation of traffic effects on asphalt concrete contaminated by accident spills using Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device

A vehicle crashing against a surface or object always produces solid or liquid debris. The presence of foreign substances or distress on the asphalt concrete (raveling, potholes, ruts, cracking) leads to a reduction in road skid resistance. Skid resistance is one of the main factors contributing to the safety of road users. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted on the presence of hydrocarbon spills, especially diesel, on the road surface. However, little attention has been paid to other types of dangerous liquid that can be spilled after a road accident. Moreover, these studies have focused on the performance degradation after spills, without examining the passage of vehicles on contaminated road surfaces. The idea developed in the present research is to analyse the consequences of the passage of a tire on a contaminated pavement. The effect of four different types of hazardous spills was tested on a wearing layer bituminous mixture (diesel, petrol, engine oil, brake oil). To simulate vehicle traffic on the road surface, a Hamburg wheel tracking device with rubber wheels at room temperature was employed. Asphalt concrete performances were evaluated in terms of skid resistance and rutting. The simulation of a vehicle load due to traffic showed different behaviour for oil and hydrocarbon spills on road surface. • Experimental application of HWT device is presented to simulate traffic induced pavement damage in laboratory. • Damage caused by four types of post-accident hazardous spills on asphalt mixtures was analysed. • A small slider was used to measure the skid resistance in terms of PTV with British Pendulum Tester road pavements. • Hydrocarbons spills on road pavement showed a higher deterioration of mechanical performance over time due to traffic. • Oil-stained asphalt concrete exhibits a very slow and long-term recovery of skid resistance after spillage.