The effect of rock carbonate types on fatique performance of asphalt mixtures in carbonate rocks of the central Alborz zone

Central Alborz Zone (CAZ) comprises a range of industries and a high concentration population (about one-fourth of the country's population), essential to provide material resources and create the necessary infrastructure for this massive population. The CAZ has a large variety of rock formations and facies, which causes extensive expansion in rock materials and resources. One of the major materials in the CAZ is the existence of a wide variety of carbonate rocks (Elika, Dalichai, Lar, Tizkuh, Ziarat, and Kond formations). This study aims to investigate the geological and engineering geological characteristics of six carbonate formations in the CAZ and to classify carbonate rocks based on their material and their performance in asphalt mixtures. Therefore, by sampling these formations and performing various lithological and engineering geological experiments, six studied formations have been classified, and have been used to evaluate their performance in asphalt mixtures. Selected formations include Elika, Dalichai, Lar, Tizkuh, Ziarat, and Kond. The studied carbonate rocks were classified based on the lithology and performance of their asphalt mixtures in fatigue and cracking test. This classification includes the best performance to the weakest performance, respectively, including Mudstone (Elika Formation), Bioclast Grainstone (Kond Formation), Bioclast Packstone (Dalichai Formation), Bioclast Packstone (Tizkuh), Packstone-wackestone (Ziarat Formation) and Dolostone (Lar Formation).