Investigating the performance of polymer and warm mix modified asphalt binders and mixtures

ABSTRACT

Using polymer modification and warm mix modification together can result in modified binders having superlative performance along with normal mixing and compaction temperature. Over the decades, different experimental methods have been used to study rutting and fatigue performances of asphalt binders and mixes. Currently, advanced performance evaluation tests like multiple stress creep and recovery, linear amplitude sweep, wheel rut tester, and four-point bending beam test are being used. In the present study, warm mix polymer modified binder was prepared by using both polymer modifier, i.e. styrene butadiene styrene and warm mix modifier, i.e. zycotherm together. Then by using these advanced tests, rutting and fatigue performances of asphalt binder and mix were evaluated at different stress levels and temperatures. A correlation was established between the asphalt binder and mix performance. Stress susceptibility was also evaluated. Using both the modification methods did not show any compatibility problems. Mixes prepared using warm mix polymer modified binder were found to have improved performance along with lower production temperature. further performance evaluation tests of asphalt binder and mixes were found to have a very good correlation with each other.

KEYWORDS:

• Asphalt binder
• polymer modification
• warm mix modification
• fatigue
• rutting

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the submitted article.