Water vapor diffusion models in asphalt mortar considering adsorption and capillary condensation

Water vapor diffusion persistently and extensively existing in asphalt pavement is one of the important contributors to moisture-induced damage. Non-Fickian diffusion of water vapor in asphalt mortar has not been deeply understood due to the lack of quantitative characterization of water molecular transport in micropores affected by the adsorption and capillary condensation. The objective of this study is to establish diffusion models considering the effects of the adsorption and capillary condensation and quantitatively characterize the dependence of diffusion coefficient on the humidity and sample thickness. The diffusion characteristics of water vapor in asphalt mortar with various thicknesses under various humid conditions were investigated using a standard wet cup method. The results suggest that in the steady diffusion the measured mass loss of diffusive water vapor linearly increases with time. The apparent diffusion coefficients determined by the first Fick's law demonstrate a nonlinear rapid reduction from 51.45x10-9 m2/s to 12.66x10-9 m2/s while the relative humidity varies from 22% to 95%. The diffusion coefficient nonlinearly decreases from 40.92x10-9 m2/s to 24.71x10-9 m2/s while the sample thickness increases from 3.62 mm to 16.34 mm. The molecular transports in gaseous flow, surface flow, and capillary condensate flow were introduced to formulate the effects of adsorption and capillary condensation. Combining the measured adsorption isotherm of water vapor in asphalt mortar, a diffusion model considering adsorption was derived and quantitatively characterizes the diffusion coefficients varying with the relative humidity. The dependence on relative humidity is attributed to the thickening of adsorbed water film in high humidity that changes the diffusivities in gaseous flow and surface flow. Another diffusion model considering capillary condensation was established to formulate the thickness-dependent diffusion coefficients in asphalt mortar. The dependence on the sample thickness is explained as the variable ratio of the diffusion in capillary condensate flow to the overall diffusion in a thick sample. This study provides a feasible approach to quantifying the environment-dependent diffusion characteristics and promotes the understanding of non-Fickian diffusion of water vapor in asphaltic materials.

Automated summary

The study aimed to establish diffusion models to reveal the diffusion characteristics of water vapor in asphalt mortar, and found that diffusion coefficient has a relationship with relative humidity and sample thickness. Results showed a linear increase in mass loss of diffusive water vapor with time during steady diffusion.