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Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition

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A Special Issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944) belonging to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 7422

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Editors

Dr. Xunhao Ding

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Guest Editor

School of Transportation, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Interests: intelligent road perception and novel sensor development; structural performance monitoring and disaster risk early warning; multiscale characterization and modeling analysis of pavement materials
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Dr. Pan Pan

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Guest Editor

School of Resource and Civil Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
Interests: solid waste utilization; functional asphalt pavement design; maintenance materials and technology for asphalt pavement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Zhuangzhuang Liu

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Guest Editor

School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an, China
Interests: road material behavior and engineering resilience; smart road materials and pavements; roadway resource evaluation; environment & traffic monitoring
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Dr. Bo Li

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Guest Editor

College of Civil Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Interests: asphalt pavement recycling; sustainable pavement materials; mechnical performance evaluation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Asphalt mixtures are widely utilized materials in the construction of roads and highways, etc. In recent years, asphalt pavements have developed with regard to their sustainability and intelligence considering the current economic and environmental challenges. Novel theories, methods, technologies, and materials are abundant in the asphalt pavement industry, including the development of reinforcement materials, functional asphalt pavements, green and sustainable asphalt pavements, intelligent distress detection, and intelligent construction and maintenance. However, enhancements in (or qualified) the mechanical properties of asphalt materials are essential in order to ensure the pavement service life, in addition to the functional and environmental benefits accrued when novel technologies and materials are employed.

This Special Issue, entitled “Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials”, aims to gather original research papers related to the mechanical properties of asphalt materials. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

Asphalt binder property evaluation and/or modelling;
Asphalt mixture performance evaluation and/or modelling;
Multi-physical/multi-scale characterization of asphalt-based materials;
Green and sustainable asphalt-based materials;
Additive reinforcement asphalt-based materials;
Durability assessment of intelligent asphalt pavements;
Intelligent monitoring technology of asphalt pavements;
Advanced asphalt material for pavement construction and maintenance.

Dr. Xunhao Ding
Dr. Pan Pan
Prof. Dr. Zhuangzhuang Liu
Dr. Bo Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

asphalt binder and mixture
performance evaluation
modeling and simulating
multi-scale mechanics
green and sustainable material
intelligent material

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4470 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Fracture Energy Recovery in Early-Damaged Asphalt Mixtures: Damage-State Regulation by Basalt Fiber Reinforcement

by Bo Li, Jian Hu, Yu Wang, Aihong Kang and Zhengguang Wu

Materials 2026, 19(16), 3536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19163536 - 20 Aug 2026

Viewed by 307

Abstract

Microwave-assisted recovery provides a potential approach for restoring fracture damage in asphalt mixtures, but previous studies have mainly focused on heating and curing conditions, while the role of the pre-heating fracture state remains less understood. This study investigated microwave-assisted fracture energy recovery from a damage-state regulation perspective by comparing a control asphalt mixture (CAM) with a basalt fiber-reinforced asphalt mixture (BFAM). Semi-circular bending (SCB) tests were combined with an L9 orthogonal design to evaluate three pre-heating conditions, target surface temperatures of 45–85 °C, and curing times of 6–24 h. Rather than directly enhancing binder recovery, basalt fiber reinforcement increased the initial fracture resistance and altered the relative fracture condition reached under a given external load. The recovery index RI ranged from 20.7% to 55.9% for CAM and from 35.2% to 82.3% for BFAM. Main-effects ANOVA showed that the pre-heating damage condition had the largest main-effect contribution within the adopted L9 framework, reaching 82.3% for CAM and 95.2% for BFAM, substantially exceeding those of target surface temperature and curing time. Under a comparable external load of approximately 2.5 kN, CAM reached the 70% P_max condition, whereas BFAM remained at the 40% P_max condition, with corresponding mean RI values of 42.8% and 76.9%. These results support a proposed conceptual damage-state regulation framework within the investigated material and experimental conditions, in which basalt fiber reinforcement preserves a more favorable pre-heating state and thereby greater recovery potential. The findings highlight the importance of improving fracture resistance and applying microwave-assisted treatment before extensive fracture development occurs, while broader validation is required before generalizing the proposed framework to other materials or field conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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18 pages, 8016 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fracture Performance and Crack Propagation Mechanism of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Asphalt Mixtures: Effects of Gradation, Mortar and Test Conditions

by Ziyun Fei, Keke Lou, Wentong Xu, Silin Jia, Cong Zhang and Zhengguang Wu

Materials 2026, 19(12), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19122443 - 7 Jun 2026

Viewed by 455

Abstract

To explore the fracture performance and crack propagation mechanism of basalt fiber (BF)-reinforced asphalt mixtures and overcome the limitations of single-factor performance evaluations, this study systematically investigates the effects of aggregate gradation, material scale and test conditions on fracture behavior. The semi-circular bending (SCB) test was integrated with digital image correlation (DIC) technology to synchronously obtain macroscopic fracture parameters and full-field displacement/strain fields. The findings showed that fine aggregate particle size could better utilize the bridging effect of BFs, increasing fracture energy by 25.8% versus 15.9% for the coarse aggregate particle size. A consistent enhancement in fracture performance is observed between the asphalt mixture and the asphalt mortar after BF incorporation. Under the same test conditions, the addition of fibers increased the fracture energy by 25.8% for the mixture and by 28.4% for the mortar, while fracture toughness increased by 6.9% and 8.3%, respectively. The lower loading rate reduces the reinforcement effect due to viscoelastic stress relaxation, while low temperatures enhance the relative crack resistance efficiency of BFs. The incorporation of fibers increases the crack tortuosity coefficient by a range of 4–14%, leading to greater energy dissipation. However, low temperatures absolutely dominate the crack morphology. This study provides an experimental reference for the differentiated design of BF-reinforced asphalt mixtures under different gradation types and climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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21 pages, 13699 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Dimensional Performance Evaluation and Basalt Fiber Strengthening Effect of Secondary Hot In-Place Recycled Asphalt Mixtures

by Binhao Su, Jian Hu, Aihong Kang and Yang Zhang

Materials 2026, 19(10), 2075; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19102075 - 15 May 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 334

Abstract

To address the rapid performance deterioration and secondary maintenance challenges of highway asphalt pavements that have undergone a first-round hot in-place recycling, this study investigates the feasibility of secondary recycling. Using the Yangzhou section of the G40 Expressway (Class II mild aging) and the Lianyungang section of the G30 Expressway (Class VI severe aging) as engineering backgrounds, three recycling schemes were designed and evaluated: Scheme A (100% RAP control), Scheme B (RAP with rejuvenator and virgin aggregate), and Scheme C (Scheme B reinforced with toughening basalt fibers). A comprehensive multi-dimensional testing protocol—including dynamic stability, semi-circular bending (SCB), low-temperature beam stripping, and Hamburg wheel-tracking—was employed to systematically evaluate the pavement performance of the second-time hot in-place recycled asphalt mixtures. The results indicate that while secondary recycled mixtures (Schemes A and B) maintain acceptable high-temperature stability, their intermediate-to-low temperature cracking resistance serves as the critical bottleneck, failing to meet standard specifications. In contrast, compared with Scheme A (100% RAP control), Scheme C (with basalt fibers) increased the flexibility index by 646.2–946.7%, the low-temperature fracture energy by 96.7–261.0%, and the Hamburg wheel-tracking stripping point by 48.1–62.2%, effectively mitigating the brittle fatigue common in aged recycled binders. According to the Jiangsu Expressway Maintenance Design Guidelines, the incorporation of basalt fibers elevated the comprehensive performance grade of the mixture from below Grade C to Grade A. This research provides a robust scientific basis and a “digital filter” for the large-scale engineering application of sustainable secondary recycling technology in heavy-traffic environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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26 pages, 1601 KB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Control and Mechanism Analysis of DCLR-Based Composite High-Modulus Asphalt Based on Synergistic Modification Effect

by Bin Xu, Xinjie Yu, Aodong Gao, Guanjun Bu and Kaiji Lu

Materials 2026, 19(6), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061268 - 23 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 596

Abstract

To address the prominent problem of early rutting distress in asphalt pavements under heavy-load traffic in China, this study proposes a composite modifier consisting of direct coal liquefaction residue (DCLR), styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer (SBS), and styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR). The preparation process and formula were optimized through single-factor experiments and orthogonal tests. Systematic investigations were conducted on its conventional performance, water damage resistance, aging resistance, fatigue performance, rheological properties, and microscopic mechanism, with comparisons made against base asphalt, single DCLR-modified asphalt, SBS-modified asphalt, and SBS/SBR-modified asphalt. The results indicate that the optimal preparation process for the novel composite high-modulus modified asphalt is as follows: DCLR particle size of 0.3 mm, addition in molten state, shear temperature of 170 °C, shear rate of 5000 r·min⁻¹, shear time of 50 min. The optimal formula is 10% DCLR + 3% SBS + 2% SBR + 3% compatibilizer, with the addition sequence of “DCLR → SBS + compatibilizer → SBR”. This asphalt exhibits a softening point of 77.8 ± 2.1 °C, a Brookfield viscosity at 135 °C of 1.928 ± 0.105 Pa·s, and a grading of 5 for adhesion to aggregates; the rutting factor at 64 °C reaches 10.8 ± 0.9 kPa (6.43 times that of the base asphalt), the creep stiffness at −12 °C is 136 ± 12.5 MPa, and the low-temperature limit temperature is −17 °C; the freeze–thaw splitting strength ratio (TSR) is 94.6 ± 1.8%, and both aging resistance and water damage resistance are significantly superior to those of the control group asphalts (p < 0.05). The novel composite high-modulus modified asphalt showed improved overall laboratory performance and may be suitable for heavy-load traffic and complex climatic conditions, however, field validation is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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16 pages, 3310 KB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Influence of Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Asphalt Mixtures

by Qinyu Shi, Zhaohui Pei and Keke Lou

Materials 2025, 18(21), 4971; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18214971 - 31 Oct 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1185

Abstract

Fiber reinforcement is a promising solution to several problems, however, the impact of fiber characteristics on the mechanical behavior and reinforcement mechanisms of asphalt mixtures remains unclear. Therefore, two distinct forms of basalt fiber—chopped basalt fiber (CBF) and flocculent basalt fiber (FBF)—were employed. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted, encompassing macroscopic and microscopic analyses through semi-circular bending tests integrated with digital image correlation, four-point bending fatigue tests, and dynamic modulus tests. Results indicate that both fiber types significantly improve crack resistance, with FBF demonstrating superior performance. Compared with the ordinary mixture, the flexibility index and fracture energy of the FBF-reinforced asphalt mixture increased by 59.7% and 30.6%, respectively. Fibers exert a crack-bridging effect, delaying the transition of the crack propagation stage by 1.25–2.21 s and reducing the crack propagation rate by 39.6–55.4%. Although fatigue life decreased with increasing strain levels, basalt fibers substantially enhanced fatigue resistance, with FBF-reinforced asphalt mixture achieving 20–40% higher N_f,50 values than CBF. Dynamic modulus tests revealed that fibers reduce modulus at low temperatures while increasing it at high temperatures, with more pronounced reinforcement effects observed in high-frequency regions. These findings underscore the importance of fiber morphology in optimizing asphalt mixture design and provide a theoretical basis for optimizing fiber-reinforced pavement materials to achieve long-term durability under complex environmental and traffic load conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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24 pages, 5525 KB

Open AccessArticle

Compositional Effects on the Performance of High-Permeability Emulsified Asphalt for Prime Coat Applications

by Zhen Qin, Xiang Liu, Shaopeng Zheng, Simiao Pan, Xiaolong Li, Jingpeng Jia and Hang Xiong

Materials 2025, 18(18), 4430; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18184430 - 22 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1206

Abstract

High-permeability emulsified asphalt has emerged as a promising prime coat for enhancing interlayer bonding in semi-rigid pavement structures. However, its widespread adoption remains limited by insufficient permeability and inconsistent mechanical properties. This study systematically investigated the effects of emulsifier ionic type (cationic or anionic), kerosene dosage (0–20%), and diluted asphalt content (corresponding to oil-water ratios of 5:5 and 4:6) on the comprehensive performance of high-permeability emulsified asphalt. Fundamental physical tests (sieve residue, evaporation residue, penetration, softening point, ductility), permeability evaluation, rotational viscosity measurements, and adhesion performance tests were conducted. Grey relational analysis (GRA) was employed to quantify the influence of each factor and their interactions on key performance metrics. The results reveal that anionic emulsifiers significantly improved low-temperature ductility and permeability. A low kerosene dosage (<10%) enhanced permeability and viscosity but compromised thermal stability at higher levels. Reducing the diluted asphalt content partially offset these adverse effects. GRA identified kerosene dosage as the dominant factor influencing permeability, softening point, and adhesion performance while emulsifier ionic type primarily affected ductility, and oil-water ratio strongly governed emulsification quality and viscosity. These findings provide quantitative insights for optimizing the composition of high-permeability emulsified asphalt and serve as a theoretical foundation for its engineering application in durable prime coats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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23 pages, 5342 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Strain Transfer Characteristics of Fiber Bragg Gratings for Asphalt Pavement Health Monitoring

by Zhaojun Hou, Dianguang Cao, Peng Peng, Xunhao Ding, Tao Ma and Jianchuan Cheng

Materials 2025, 18(15), 3489; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153489 - 25 Jul 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1405

Abstract

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) exhibits strong resistance to electromagnetic interference and excellent linear strain response, making it highly promising for structural health monitoring (SHM) in pavement. This research investigates the strain transfer characteristics of embedded FBG in pavement structure and materials by using the relevant theoretical models. Results indicate adhesive layer thickness and sheath modulus are the primary factors influencing the strain transfer coefficient. A thinner adhesive layer and high modulus of sheath enhance the coefficient. Additionally, the strain distribution of sheath significantly affects the transfer efficiency. When the stress level near the grating region is lower than the both ends, the coefficient increases and even exceeds 1, which typically occurs under multi-axle conditions. As for asphalt mixture, high temperature leads to lower efficiency, while accumulated plastic strain improves it. Although the increased load frequency results a higher strain transfer coefficient, the magnitude of this change is negligible. By employing polynomial fitting to the sheath strain distribution, the boundary condition of theoretical equation could be removed. The theoretical and numerical results of strain transfer coefficient for pavement embedded FBG demonstrate good consistency, indicating the polynomial fitting is adoptable for the theoretical calculation with non-uniform strain distribution. This study utilizes the FEM to clarify the evolution of FBG strain transfer in pavement structures and materials, providing a theoretical basis for the design and implementation of embedded FBG in pavement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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29 pages, 6187 KB

Open AccessReview

Sustainable Utilization of Coal Gangue in Asphalt Pavement: A Review on Design, Mechanism, and Performance

by Yanshun Jia, Mingyang Lan, Si Peng, Wang Zhang, Chundi Si, Jie Yu, Jiupeng Zhang, Yi Zhang and Zeqi Chen

Materials 2025, 18(24), 5666; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245666 - 17 Dec 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1003

Abstract

Coal gangue, a solid waste from coal mining, has long been underutilized while posing environmental and safety risks. This study reviews the current research progress and future prospects of coal gangue as a resource in asphalt pavement. The physical and chemical properties of coal gangue were summarized, and the environmental issues caused by its accumulation were highlighted. The effects of using coal gangue as aggregates or fillers in asphalt mixture were reviewed, along with its activation methods. The research progress on using coal gangue as an aggregate or a cementitious material in mixtures stabilized with inorganic binders was also examined, emphasizing the effects of binder content and coal gangue properties on mechanical and durability performance. The findings indicate that despite its inferior physical properties, coal gangue demonstrates practical feasibility as a pavement material when appropriately incorporated and activated. Proper content enabled coal gangue to meet asphalt mixture or base material requirements, while excessive content reduced low-temperature resistance and caused structural defects. Activated or modified methods can effectively enhance interfacial interaction, high-temperature stability, or structural densification of coal gangue. Recent studies have expressed enthusiasm for innovative activation or modification methods and AI-based performance optimization, while key challenges remain regarding high activation-energy demand, limited aggregate-related research, and an incomplete understanding of interfacial mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Property Research of Advanced Asphalt-Based Materials—Second Edition)

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