Influence of Wetting-Drying cycles on the linear viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures

•We subjected one hot mix asphalt (HMA) to multiple wetting–drying cycles.•The wetting–drying cycles were conducted through the vapour equilibrium technique.•|E*| was computed at each saturation level using the HCT-AM.•The wetting–drying cycles caused an irreversible degradation in |E*|.•This study shows the influence of partial saturation in the response of HMAs. The top asphalt layers of pavement structures are subjected to loading demands and multiple environmental factors. Even though existing studies on moisture damage in asphalt mixtures have demonstrated the deleterious effects of water on different mechanical properties of these materials, the impact caused by changes in the partial saturation during the application of wetting–drying cycles on the linear viscoelastic properties of the mixture is an unexplored field. This study quantifies, for the first time, the changes in these properties (i.e., dynamic modulus, |E*|, and phase angle, ϕ) of a conventional asphalt mixture subjected to multiple wetting–drying moisture vapour cycles. The testing specimens were conditioned at five different relative humidity (RH) environments that were increased (wet path) or reduced (dry path) gradually, causing different saturation levels within their microstructures. The magnitude of |E*| and ϕ of the specimens was measured after reaching a steady state condition at each individual RH environment. In total, the specimens were subjected to five wetting–drying cycles and to a total of 41 dynamic modulus tests. The results corroborate that the degree of saturation impacts the linear viscoelastic properties of the mixture and show the irreversible effect of wetting–drying cycles on these properties. Since the dynamic modulus is an input parameter in the design of flexible pavements, the results also suggest that the degradation of this property due to changes in the partial saturation under field conditions could be included as part of existing mechanistic-empirical design methodologies.