Evaluating Performance Of European Rock Asphalt Modified Asphalt Binder

In order to explore the performance of European rock asphalt modified asphalt binder, modified asphalt was successfully prepared basing on penetration 70 asphalt with European rock asphalt modifier. Laboratory tests on asphalt binder modified with different contents within 25% of the rock asphalt were carried out. Through the test results, the paper explored the performance of European rock asphalt modified asphalt binder, then determined the evaluation indexes.Based on the conventional tests, properties, such as penetration, penetration index, equivalent softening point, equivalent fracture point, softening point, ductility, mass loss after RTFOT aging, retained penetration and aging index, were analyzed. The conventional tests results and analyses indicate that the high temperature behavior, temperature susceptibility, applicable temperature range, and aging resistance of rock asphalt modified asphalt binder improve considerably with increasing rock asphalt content. However, the low temperature behavior and ductility of rock asphalt modified asphalt binder deteriorate to some extent with increasing rock asphalt content. Testing on asphalt mixture is required for further evaluation of the performance of the rock asphalt modified asphalt binder, particularly low temperature behavior.Superpave tests on base asphalt and European rock asphalt modified asphalt binder were carried out; and the correlation between conventional and Superpave evaluation methods were analyzed. Superpave tests results and analyses indicate that the high temperature behavior, temperature susceptibility, anti–rutting performance and applicable temperature range of rock asphalt modified asphalt binder improve considerably with increasing rock asphalt content. Besides, the results show a close correlation between conventional and Superpave evaluation.Based on the dynamic mechanical analysis, this paper investigated the influence of load frequency on the rheological properties of European rock asphalt modified asphalt binder. All the tests were operated within the liner viscoelastic range. The complex modulus master curve covered the entire frequency range of engineering applications. The results provided a sufficient basis for comprehensive study of the viscoelastic behavior for European rock asphalt modified asphalt binder.In the last part of this thesis, the economic and social benefits of European rock asphalt were studied. The results showed that European rock asphalt modified asphalt binder could not only improve the pavement performance and service level but also fully reflect the people–oriented capabilities, meet the requirements of energy saving and environmental protection.