Asphalt binder is one of the key factors that influence the engineering properties of hot mix asphalt (HMA) concrete. Many research studies suggest that the Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) polymer is a promising modifier to improve the asphalt binder, and hence benefit the HMA viscoelastic properties. The specific beneficial characteristics and appropriate polymer concentration need to be evaluated. This paper presents an experimental program based on the fracture mechanics framework to evaluate the effect of SBS polymer-modified binder concentration on engineering properties of HMA concrete mixtures. Two standard Superpave control mixes with the base asphalt (PG 67-22) which is commonly used in Florida were selected. Each control mix design was modified to three SBS polymer content levels (3.0%, 4.5%, and 6.0%). Three types of Indirect Diametral Tension (IDT) test, i.e., the resilient modulus test, the creep compliance test, and the tensile strength test, were performed to determine the fracture mechanics properties of polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) specimens at three temperature levels: -10, 5, and 25° C (14, 41, and 77° F). The test results indicated that the SBS polymer-modified asphalt binder improved the fracture mechanics behavior of asphalt mixtures comprehensively. Excessive amount of polymer content might improve the stiffness, creep, and failure strain properties at low temperatures; however, its effect on the PMA resilient modulus at high temperatures is not always favorable.
Effect of Polymer Binder Content on Fracture Mechanics Properties of Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete
Ninth Asia Pacific Transportation Development Conference ; 2012 ; Chongqing, China
Sustainable Transportation Systems ; 599-607
2012-06-28
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Fracture Morphology and Fracture Toughness Measurement of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Concrete
Transportation Research Record | 1997
|Fracture Morphology and Fracture Toughness Measurement of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Concrete
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
|Fracture Morphology and Fracture Toughness Measurement of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Concrete
Online Contents | 1997
|Effect of Binder Types on Engineering Properties and Performance of Porous Asphalt Concrete
Online Contents | 2012
|