Flow accumulation algorithms (FAAs) predict the cumulative upstream drainage but each FAA generates a different map and this uncertainty still remains unsolved. This study makes advances in flow path research by testing 8 FAAs and analyzing the uncertainties of 15 simulations. The DR2-2013 © SAGAv1.0 hydrological software is presented in a study carried out for two catchment lakes (NE Spain) over a 69-month test period. The best simulations were obtained with two single flow (Rho8 and Deterministic Infinity) and two multiple flow (Multiple Flow with threshold value and Triangular Multiple Flow) algorithms. Correlations between runoff depths and lake levels improved when the test period was split into wet and dry seasons. Correlations also improved with a one-month delay in response time and no delay in the large and small lakes. The DR2-2013 © tool helped predict changes in lake volume and the highest model efficiencies were obtained with the multiple flow algorithms.

Environmental conditions as well as traffic loads lead to the deterioration of asphalt pavements during their service life. For this reason, the use of nanomaterials that improve the mixtures behaviour could be interesting. The behaviour of two mixtures made with binder modified with nanoclay and nanoiron, and their strength against ageing and moisture damage is studied. Mixtures have been subjected to ageing by two procedures: extended heating, Long-Term Oven Ageing (LTOA), and ultraviolet (UV) plus rainfall simulation, Tecnico Accelerated Ageing (TEAGE). The results show that nanoclay improves the mixture behaviour against ageing, while nanoiron does against moisture damage.

The ageing phenomenon and moisture damage become key factors to evaluate mixture cracking resistance. In this paper, the effect of ageing and water on cracking resistance and fatigue behavior in a bituminous mixture is studied. Specimens were tested by a direct tensile test (Fénix test) to obtain fracture energy values whereas variation of complex modulus and dissipated energy density was obtained by a strain sweep fatigue test (EBADE test). Results show a significant reduction in cracking resistance and fatigue life of the mixture after ageing (failure strain is reduced approximately by 35%). Water in standard conditions has very little influence.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

ABSTRACT:The ageing of asphalt mixes, together with their exposure to low temperatures, causes a progressive increase of cracking. In this paper, the effect of ageing and temperature on the fatigue of asphalt concretes made with two types of binders, conventional (50/70) and polymer modified bitumen (PMB), is studied. For this purpose, specimens previously subjected to an accelerated laboratory ageing process were tested by a strain sweep test at different temperatures (-5ºC, 5ºC and 20°C). Results were compared with the obtained from the unaged specimens showing the relative importance of ageing, temperature and type of bitumen on the parameters that determine the fatigue life of the mixture. The mixtures behaviour becomes more brittle with ageing and the decrease of temperature. However, ageing hardly has an effect on fatigue at lower temperatures. In general, mixtures made with polymer modified bitumen have a better fatigue performance to ageing and temperature. RESUMEN: Efecto del envejecimiento y de la temperatura en el comportamiento a fatiga de las mezclas bituminosas.el envejecimiento de las mezclas, unido a su exposición a bajas temperaturas, provoca un progresivo aumento de su fisuración. En este trabajo, se estudia el efecto del envejecimiento y la temperatura en la fatiga de una mezcla semidensa fabricada con dos tipos de ligantes, 50/70 y PMB 45/80-65. Para ello, probetas previamente sometidas a envejecimiento acelerado en laboratorio fueron ensayadas mediante un ensayo de barrido de deformaciones, a diferentes temperaturas (-5, 5 y 20ºC). Los resultados fueron comparados con los obtenidos en mezclas no envejecidas mostrando la importancia del envejecimiento, temperatura y ligante sobre los parámetros que condicionan la vida a fatiga de la mezcla. El comportamiento de las mezclas es más frágil debido al envejecimiento y la disminución de la temperatura. Sin embargo, el envejecimiento apenas influye en la fatiga a temperaturas bajas. En general, las mezclas con betún modificado muestran mejor respuesta a fatiga frente a envejecimiento y temperatura.

This paper compares the results obtained in two types of cyclic tension-compression tests, a time sweep test, constant strain amplitude, and a strain sweep test, increasing strain amplitude every 5000 cycles, called EBADE (standing for the Spanish words for strain sweep test). This comparison has shown that the rapid loss of stiffness during the initial part of cyclic testing is recoverable in bituminous materials. It has been found that reversible phenomena dominate in asphalt binders, while in mixtures are as important as damage. A damage equation has been proposed to describe the evolution of the material distress during the phase II in time sweep tests. In addition, a new methodology to estimate the fatigue law of bituminous mixtures is proposed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft