Short-Term and Long-Term Aging Behavior of Rubber Modified Asphalt Paving Mixture

Abstract

Aging of asphalt has been an important subject area that has received extensive studies in recent years. Test results of short-term and long-term aging behavior of crumb rubber modifier (CRM) modified asphalt paving materials are presented. Eighteen combinations of CRM modified binders in terms of CRM size, CRM content, and base asphalt cement grade were studied by Brookfield viscometer test and dynamic shear rheometer test. The short-term aged binders were prepared using thin film oven test. Viscosity was measured at 350°F in the Brookfield thermosel after mixing at 375°F for 2 hr. The test results showed that the size and percentage of CRM affected the viscosity development in the modified binders: the smaller the CRM size and the higher the CRM content, the higher the viscosity measured after 2-hr reaction at 375°F. Short-term aging exerted more viscosity increase in the CRM modified binders than in the unmodified binders. Modified binders showed less weight loss than unmodified binders. The modified binders showed higher complex modulus G* than unmodified. Short-term aging increased G*, with modified binders exhibiting higher increase. The Marshall mix design yielded various CRM modified mixes. The result of indirect tensile strength tests showed that short-term and long-term aging increased the measured tensile strengths. The resilient modulus test results, in general, supported the general understanding that aging tended to increase resilient modulus.