Analyzing the effects of clogging of PA internal structure with artificial soiling experiments

Clogging of porous asphalt (PA) pavements as a result of long-term soiling effects is a well-known phenomenon in road construction. This kind of deterioration effect causes a gradual loss of noise reduction and drainage which are the extraordinary functional properties of PA. In order to quantify and better understand the impacts of soiling on PA properties a methodology of systematic artificial soiling experiments is presented in this paper in detail. Different questions concerning the methodology and the whole testing set-up like dirt composition and application, artificial rainfall or dirt trapping facilities are discussed with a special glance at the laboratory testing conditions which take place in a controlled way to be comparable and as close to reality as possible, feasible and useful. Some demonstrative results of the artificial soiling tests like wash-out of dirt or the impacts on pore structure, drainage and sound absorption (as part of the noise-reducing effect) are shown exemplarily and/or referenced.