Evaluation of the Cracking Performance of Asphalt Binders at Intermediate Temperatures

The major objective of this research was to identify a binder parameter to effectively characterize binder cracking performance at intermediate temperatures. A laboratory experimental plan was developed that included six asphalt binders and twelve mixtures of two aggregate types. The linear amplitude sweep (LAS) test and the binder fracture energy (BFE) test were identified as candidate binder tests. Superpave indirect tensile tests (IDT) were performed to obtain mixture failure limit and damage rate, which were combined to evaluate mixture cracking performance. Two versions of the LAS with three different failure definitions were employed to characterize the binder resistance to fatigue damage: the TP 101-14 and the GR approach resulted in similar binder ranking. Moreover, the BFE test in its existing form was performed to determine the binder failure limit, i.e., fracture energy density (FED). Additionally, an alternative interpretation of the true stress-true strain curve was proposed and employed to obtain the binder damage rate. Results showed that binder FED and damage rate appeared to be inversely related: a binder with higher FED also had lower damage rate. The BFE binder fatigue life (Nf) parameter that integrates binder FED and damage rate was used to evaluate the relative cracking performance of asphalt binders. There is a fairly good correlation between LAS Nf parameter and mixture Nf parameter, except for the softest unmodified binder and the hybrid binder containing rubber. Correlations between binder and mixture results in terms of fracture properties and relative cracking performance were also examined: the binder FED parameter, which was inversely related to the binder damage rate parameter, was found to more suitably characterize the cracking performance of asphalt binders than the BFE binder Nf parameter. The BFE test following the TP 127 was recommended to evaluate binder cracking performance at intermediate temperatures.

• Record URL:
  https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bdv31-977-83-rpt.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bdv31-977-83-sum.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56373
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Cover title: Cracking Performance Evaluation of Asphalt Binders at Intermediate Temperatures.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611-6580

  Florida Department of Transportation

  605 Suwannee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Authors:
  • Roque, Reynaldo
  • Yan, Yu
  • Lopp, George
• Publication Date: 2020-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 128p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous binders; Cracking; Deformation curve; Fatigue strength; Fracture properties; Laboratory tests; Temperature; Tension tests
• Identifier Terms: Linear Amplitude Sweep Test
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01754223
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 00095360
• Contract Numbers: BDV31-977-83
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 5 2020 2:37PM