Design and development of a new asphalt disc for tire abrasion measurements with LAT100

Tire wear is a highly complex phenomenon, influenced by a many different parameters.
Various test methods have been developed to assess tire wear, including outdoor field
tests and, for tire tread compound, indoor laboratory-scale testing. Measuring tire wear
with outdoor field tests is not only highly expensive and time-consuming but is also only
possible in later stages. That's why this research primarily focuses on indoor laboratoryscale
tests, utilizing the LAT100 (Laboratory abrasion tester). Indoor tests have also
certain limitations, as wear is a highly complex mechanism, and existing methods do not
fully replicate the phenomenon observed between real roads and tires since the used
surface is corundum. The goal of this research is to design a new surface for the LAT100
that can realistically mimic the interactions between road pavement and tires. This surface
will be produced from asphalt to represent the road surface in the most realistic way.
During the design of this new asphalt disc, the first challenge is to identify an asphalt type
that can serve as a standard for wear measurements. Additionally, the dynamic nature of
the test must be taken into account when selecting the binder. With the LAT100 test, the
phenomenon is downscaled, and this should be considered when choosing the size
distribution of the aggregates used in the asphalt. At last, the creation of a stable and longlasting
asphalt disc is highly dependent on the compaction of the asphalt mixture inside
the holder.
The design stages of the new disc involve the selection of the asphalt type, the design of
the asphalt mixture, compaction of the asphalt, and the design of the new disc. Finally,
the Grosch test principle (ISO 23233:2016) will be used with a variety of discs with varied
surfaces (corundum, sandpaper, granite-epoxy, and asphalt) to evaluate the wear
behavior and mechanism of specific compounds.