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Fracture Mechanics of Asphalt Pavement Materials and Structures

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2025) | Viewed by 5880

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Dr. Weimin Song

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
Interests: pavement engineering; infrastructure materials; discrete element modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The durability of asphalt pavements is critically affected by asphalt mixture cracking. The focus on cracking resistance has changed asphalt mixtures, as we have moved from the traditional Marshall Mix Design approach to the Superpave Mix Design method, and then to the increasingly popular Balanced Mix Design (BMD) approach, which is now considered an essential aspect of asphalt pavement design. Currently, the adoption of fracture mechanics theory is receiving considerable attention in the evaluation of the cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures. Although existing standards clearly define the methods for testing the fracture performance of asphalt mixtures and pavements at low and intermediate temperatures, there remains significant potential for development in the characterization of asphalt concrete's fracture behavior and for refining the testing methodologies that are based on fracture mechanics. The purpose of this Special Issue is thus to collect the latest research and achievements, and discuss progress in the improved fracture mechanics of asphalt pavement materials and structures, in order to provide guidance for the design of durable asphalt pavements.

Potential topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

Mixture design and optimization, based on fracture mechanics;
Fracture testing and the prediction of binder, mixture, and pavement performance using novel testing methods;
The fracture performance of asphalt mixture and base materials containing RAP or other solid wastes;
Multi-scale simulation of fractures.

Dr. Weimin Song
Guest Editor

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Keywords

asphalt mixture
pavement
fracture mechanics

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 10020 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nano-Interaction Mechanism Between Crumb Rubber and Asphalt Components: A Molecular Dynamic Study

by Jian Li and Liang He

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1302; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031302 - 27 Jan 2025

Viewed by 802

Abstract

Asphalt modified with treated waste tires has good environmental protection and application value. However, the nano-interaction mechanism of crumb rubber (CR) and asphalt (especially its components) is unclear. In this study, molecular models of asphalt, asphalt components, CR, and CR-modified asphalt (CRMA) were constructed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The validity of the model construction and parameter setting was verified by multiple indexes. The influence mechanism of CRMA density, asphalt-CR compatibility, mechanical indexes, and binding energy under the influence of temperature, CR dosage, and other factors was systematically analyzed. Results showed that the optimum temperature for preparing and storing to prevent segregation did not coincide. The solubility parameters (S_P) prediction model of the asphalt’s four components was obtained based on the multiple linear regression method. CR could enhance the mechanical properties of asphalt, but the improvement was limited to small dosages. Increasing the dosage can enhance the mechanical properties of asphalt; the mechanical properties can be significantly improved in medium- and high-temperature conditions. Bulk modulus and shear modulus were recommended for preferential analysis of the mechanical properties of CRMA. It is recommended that the optimal dosage be 20%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fracture Mechanics of Asphalt Pavement Materials and Structures)

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18 pages, 6108 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance and Economic Evaluation of Asphalt-Based High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) Applications

by Alireza Roshan and Magdy Abdelrahman

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020873 - 17 Jan 2025

Viewed by 626

Abstract

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFSTs) are recognized for enhancing friction between tires and road surfaces, with reduced road accidents being a key benefit. Epoxy-based HFSTs, though widely used, come with challenges like compatibility issues with existing pavements, higher installation and removal costs, and reduced durability tied to substrate quality. Recently, state agencies have increasingly focused on developing asphalt-based alternative binders for HFST applications as highlighted in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) RFP #NCHRP 10-145. This study introduces asphalt-based HFSTs as an alternative to traditional epoxy-based treatments. Various aggregate types were examined for friction performance and the effect of polishing cycles on asphalt-based HFST. Tests such as the British Pendulum Test (BPT), Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT), and Circular Track Meter (CTM) were conducted to assess the Coefficient of Friction (COF) and Mean Profile Depth (MPD) before and after polishing cycles. Additionally, a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) was performed to determine the economic advantages of asphalt-based HFSTs over epoxy treatments. The goal was to develop a method to convert diverse project and material data into comparable outputs like net present value (NPV), enabling comparisons between alternatives. Results from the LCCA demonstrated that the use of specific asphalt-based binders combined with optimized aggregate gradation not only achieves performance levels comparable to traditional HFST options but also improves cost efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fracture Mechanics of Asphalt Pavement Materials and Structures)

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19 pages, 7596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Different Fibers on Performance of Bitumen Binders and Thin-Overlay Bitumen Mixtures

by Jianguo Wei, Jing Mao, Yanlong Han, Ping Li, Wenjie Wu and Chengxi Yi

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010022 - 24 Dec 2024

Viewed by 851

Abstract

Thin-layer covers easily crack under traffic load, shortening their service life. Incorporating fiber materials into the mix can enhance crack resistance thanks to their abundance, affordability, and flexibility. However, different types of fibers have different performances in bitumen and mixtures due to different material properties. To explore this problem, basalt fiber, polypropylene fiber, and glass fiber were selected in this paper. The surface characteristics, internal structure, and adsorption capacity of oily substances were observed via scanning electron microscopy and oil absorption rate testing. The effects of fibers on the high-temperature and low-temperature properties of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer-modified bitumen were investigated using the dynamic shear rheometer and the force ductility method. Ultimately, through indirect tensile testing and semi-circular bending tests, and the introduction of the toughness index and fracture toughness, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted on how varying fiber types and content affect the crack resistance and toughness of bitumen mixtures. The results show that the density and dispersion of the bundle fibers are the key to the oil absorption capacity under similar internal and external structural conditions. The oil absorption rate of polypropylene fiber is the best, reaching 5.423. Fiber incorporation can significantly improve the high-temperature rheological properties of bitumen. At 4% dosage, G*/sinδ increased by about 107.04% on average at 76 °C. At low temperatures, the increase in fiber content leads to a decrease in bitumen elasticity, and the influence of glass fiber is more obvious. The area of toughness did not reach 2000 N·mm at 4% dosage. After adding fibers, the toughness index and fracture toughness of the mixture increased by more than 2% and 35%, respectively. The maximum increases in fracture energy and crack initiation energy of the mixture are 14.29% and 47.29%, respectively. It shows that the fiber enhances the toughness, crack resistance, and crack propagation resistance of the mixture. The research results can provide some reference for the application of fiber-reinforced bitumen mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fracture Mechanics of Asphalt Pavement Materials and Structures)

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17 pages, 4618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Aggregate Crystalline Surface Anisotropy on Asphalt–Aggregate Interface Interaction Based on Molecular Dynamics

by Jian Li and Liang He

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11969; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411969 - 20 Dec 2024

Viewed by 652

Abstract

To investigate the influence of aggregate crystalline surface anisotropy on the interfacial effects and understand the bonding mechanisms, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze the spatial distribution, diffusion, and adhesion properties of asphalt on typical acidic (α-quartz, SiO₂) and weakly alkaline (calcite, CaCO₃) aggregates. The results indicated that different types and crystalline surfaces of aggregates did not alter the distribution patterns of the asphalt components on their surfaces. However, the magnitude of the radial distribution function (RDF) varied with different crystalline surfaces, and a higher RDF value was correlated with better adhesion performance. Different diffusion behaviors were exhibited by asphalt molecules on different crystalline surfaces: slower diffusion was correlated with stronger adhesion and faster diffusion with weaker adhesion. The adhesion performance was significantly affected by the anisotropy of the aggregates. In the asphalt–SiO₂ system, the van der Waals energy and surface atomic density were the major influencing factors, whereas, in the asphalt–CaCO₃ system, the electrostatic energy was significantly influenced by ionic bonding. Overall, alkaline aggregates showed greater adhesion performance with asphalt than acidic aggregates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fracture Mechanics of Asphalt Pavement Materials and Structures)

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17 pages, 4695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determining the Compaction Temperature of Warm-Mix Anti-Rutting Asphalt Mixture

by Zhaohui Liu, Zebin Liu, You Huang and Yue Cao

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11042; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311042 - 27 Nov 2024

Viewed by 737

Abstract

In order to study the effect of a warm-mix agent on the compaction characteristics of an anti-rutting asphalt mixture, this study compared the compaction temperature of an anti-rutting asphalt mixture with different warm-mix-agent contents from two aspects: asphalt viscosity and asphalt mixture voids. Based on the rheological properties of asphalt, the optimal content of the anti-rutting agent was first determined as 6% by the weight of asphalt. Four warm-mix-agent contents of 0% (control group), 1%, 2%, and 3% were designed. The viscosity–temperature curve of the warm-mix anti-rutting modified asphalt was obtained by the Brookfield viscosity tests. After that, AC-20 standard Marshall specimens were prepared to conduct a series of consecutive temperature compaction tests. The voids were calculated based on the bulk density of the specimen measured by the saturated surface-dry method. Industrial Computerized Tomography (CT) was employed to further quantify the internal voids. Two voids–compaction temperature curves were constructed based on the saturated surface-dry and CT results, respectively. The comparative results show that significant differences exist between the compaction temperatures obtained from the three curves. The viscosity–temperature curve shows that when the warm-mix agent is increased from 0% to 3%, the compaction temperature only declines about 7.9%. However, the voids–compaction temperature curves from saturated surface-dry and CT, respectively, indicate a temperature decrease of 22.7% and 19.2%. This is because a warm-mix agent will interact with asphalt, resulting in a decrease in asphalt intermolecular adsorption, whereas an anti-rutting agent mixed with asphalt will increase the degree of cross-linking and aggregation between asphalt molecules. Both additions have a certain impact on the viscosity of the asphalt binder; thus the traditional method of using the asphalt viscosity–temperature curve to determine the compaction temperature of warm-mix anti-rutting asphalt mixture has become ineffective. It is suggested to use the equal voids method to determine the compaction temperature of warm-mix anti-rutting asphalt mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fracture Mechanics of Asphalt Pavement Materials and Structures)

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22 pages, 8627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Odor Purification Mechanism and Smoke Release of Warm-Mixed Rubber Asphalt

by Tao Wang, Wenyu Bu, Zhiqiang Cheng, Rui Ma, Shengjia Xie, Zexiang Deng, Yuefeng Zhu and Yue Zhou

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5640; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135640 - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1039

Abstract

This study focuses on the common key technologies of “environmentally friendly and resource-saving” asphalt pavement. Reactive asphalt deodorizers react with volatile chemicals with irritating odors in asphalt under high temperature conditions, converting them into stable and non-volatile macromolecules to remove odors and achieve a deodorizing effect. A goal is to develop clean asphalt pavement materials with the main characteristics of “low consumption, low emissions, low pollution, high efficiency”. In this experimental research, we used gas-emission detection devices and methods to detect and evaluate odor concentration, SO₂, NO, volatile organic compounds, and other gases and volatile substances in the production and construction of clean asphalt and mixtures. By combining rheological experiments, mechanical experiments, and other means, this study investigates the effects of odor enhancers on the penetration, ductility, softening point, high-temperature rheological properties, construction, and workability of warm-mix asphalt and mixtures. Furthermore, infrared spectroscopy experiments are used to conduct in-depth research on the odor-enhancing mechanism of odor enhancers. The results indicate that the addition of odor enhancers has little effect on the penetration and softening point of asphalt and maintains the basic performance stability of asphalt. In terms of high-temperature rheological properties and construction workability, the addition of warm-mix agents has a significant impact on the high-temperature failure temperature and rotational viscosity of asphalt, while the influence of deodorizers is relatively small. At higher temperatures, the rotational viscosity increases with the increase in the amount of deodorant added. Functional group analysis shows that the newly added materials have little effect on the essential properties and chemical composition of asphalt. In addition, during the experimental process, it was found that the coupling effect and other chemical reactions between the deodorizing agent and the warm-mixing agent can effectively improve the degradation effect of harmful gases. After the coupling action of deodorant and the warm-mixing agent, the degradation rate of harmful gas can be increased by 5–20%, ensuring the stable performance of asphalt. The performance of powder deodorizing agent is better than that of liquid deodorizing agent, and an increase in the dosage of deodorizing agent will enhance the degradation effect. This study provides an important basis for a deeper understanding of the performance of warm-mix and odorless modified asphalt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fracture Mechanics of Asphalt Pavement Materials and Structures)

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