Valoración de la prueba de tracción indirecta vinculada al módulo de rigidez para el control del agrietamiento en las mezclas asfálticas.

Abstract

The present research evaluates the indirect tensile test as a tool for cracking control in asphalt mixtures by directly linking it to the stiffness modulus. The problem addressed lies in the need for more accessible tests that allow predicting mechanical behavior and cracking susceptibility within the Ecuadorian road context. The main objective was to determine and assess the functional relationship between Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) and Stiffness Modulus (Smig) based on a robust statistical analysis. The methodology employed an experimental approach conducted at the Road Laboratory of the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil, where 292 samples from five different production plants were analyzed. Regression models and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied using STATGRAPHICS® software to validate the correlation between both variables. The results revealed a significant linear relationship, supported by a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.85 and a P-value of less than 0.05. Furthermore, control parameters for ITS at 20°C were established: a satisfactory range (between 1.05 and 1.20 MPa) and a tolerable range (between 0.95 and 1.30 MPa), linked to stiffness moduli that ensure adequate performance against cracking. It is concluded that the ITS is an effective parameter for routine quality control, allowing the identification of mixtures that are excessively stiff and brittle or prone to deformation, thus contributing to improving the durability of pavement surface layers in the country.