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Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition)

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 7209

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Dr. Jiaqi Chen

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Department of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
Interests: multi-scale modelling for transportation infrastructure; pavement–environment interaction; pavement material
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The success of our previous edition of the Special Issue “Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation” shows that developing sustainable pavement materials in road engineering remains a crucial topic because of their abundant advantages over other conventional materials. Sustainable pavement materials can significantly improve pavement durability and abrasion resistance, transportation costs, energy consumption, resource utilization, maintenance strategy, and environmental impacts, among others.

In recent years, there has been a surge in research focusing on developing and assessing sustainable pavement materials. However, there are still varied challenges, such as the structural form, design methodology, performance prediction, technology development, etc., that require further investigation and resolution.

This Special Issue will gather research articles related to “Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation”. Original research and review articles are encouraged to provide a platform for researchers to discuss progress and future perspectives regarding sustainable pavement materials. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, recycled pavement materials, modified asphalt materials, utilizing innovative recycled materials in pavement construction, industrial waste for pavement construction, life cycle assessment of sustainable pavements, multi-scale modeling and performance evaluation of road materials, environmental impacts of pavement materials, eco-friendly pavement construction, multi-scale modeling, and performance evaluation of pavement materials. Moreover, experimental and numerical analyses of case studies aligned with the topic of sustainable pavement materials are welcome.

Dr. Jiaqi Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

sustainable pavement materials
recycled pavement materials
modified asphalt materials
industrial waste for pavement construction
multi-scale modeling of pavement materials
performance evaluation of pavement materials
eco-friendly pavement
environmental impacts of pavement materials
industrial waste for pavement construction
life-cycle assessment of pavements

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 13447 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Properties of Waterborne Epoxy Resin/Polyurethane Composite Modified Emulsified Asphalt

by Siyu Bo, Yitong Hou and Minda Ren

Materials 2026, 19(11), 2394; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112394 - 4 Jun 2026

Viewed by 299

Abstract

Waterborne epoxy resin emulsified asphalt (WEA) is often used as a preventive maintenance material for asphalt pavement due to its excellent mechanical properties and high-temperature stability. However, its relatively poor toughness and low-temperature crack resistance limit its broader application. To address this issue, a PPG-IPDI-based waterborne polyurethane/epoxy resin (WER/PU) emulsion was synthesized via the prepolymer dispersion method using polypropylene glycol (PPG), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (DMPA), and epoxy resin (E-44) as the main raw materials. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed that flexible polyurethane segments were successfully grafted onto the epoxy resin. This WER/PU emulsion was then incorporated as a modifier into emulsified asphalt to prepare waterborne polyurethane/epoxy resin composite-modified emulsified asphalt (WER/PU-CMEA). A series of laboratory tests were conducted to compare the compatibility, conventional properties, mechanical performance, high temperature rheological properties, low-temperature crack resistance and aging resistance of ordinary emulsified asphalt (OEA), WEA, and WER/PU-CMEA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to analyze the modification mechanism of WEA by WPU. The results show that WER/PU exhibits good compatibility with emulsified asphalt, and the synergistic effect of WER/PU significantly enhances the overall performance of the emulsified asphalt. Compared with WEA, WER/PU-CMEA shows a slight decrease in tensile strength and high-temperature stability, but it notably improves material compatibility, flexibility, bond strength, elongation at break, high-temperature creep-recovery performance, and low-temperature crack resistance. This study provides a promising approach for developing high-performance emulsified asphalt materials, which have strong application potential in pavement maintenance, waterproof coatings, and tack coats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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27 pages, 4436 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Crumb Rubber Content and Preparation Temperature on the Asphalt Performance and Fume Emissions of Deodorized Rubberized Asphalt

by Wenxiu Wu, Xiangzheng Fang, Yonglin Hu, Huiyi Jin, Yinyan Li, Yifei Sun, Wanyu Wu, Chao Li and Yingjun Jiang

Materials 2026, 19(7), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071460 - 5 Apr 2026

Viewed by 572

Abstract

While rubberized asphalt with a crumb rubber content of 20% to 40% can improve asphalt performance, it also faces prominent issues such as increased construction viscosity and intensified fume emissions. Currently, systematic studies on high-content deodorized rubberized asphalt across different preparation temperatures remain insufficient, particularly regarding the synergistic optimization of performance enhancement and fume emission control, including gaseous pollutants and particulate matter. To address this, deodorized crumb rubber (G-CR), a surface-treated crumb rubber produced by coating with a deodorizing agent, was introduced in this study and blended with base asphalt to prepare deodorized rubberized asphalt (G-CRA). Through laboratory binder tests, the coupled effects of crumb rubber content and preparation temperature (170–200 °C) on the conventional properties, rheological characteristics, and fume emissions of G-CRA were systematically analyzed. The results show that at 30% crumb rubber content and 190 °C preparation temperature, the asphalt binder achieves an optimal balance among penetration, ductility, and softening point, along with significantly improved high-temperature stability and aging resistance. Compared to conventional crumb rubber asphalt (CRA, without deodorant treatment), G-CRA achieves a significant reduction in fume emissions, with SO₂ reduction reaching up to 81%. This study demonstrates that deodorized crumb rubber can effectively synergize performance enhancement and gaseous emission control under high-content conditions, providing laboratory-level data support for the development of environmentally friendly rubberized asphalt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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27 pages, 7896 KB

Open AccessArticle

Methodology for Evaluating Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Slabs in Temporary Traffic Bridge Systems over Uncured Cement Concrete Pavements Using Small-Scale Experimental Slabs

by Soon Ho Baek, Kang In Lee, Sang Jin Kim, Geon Lee and Seong-Min Kim

Materials 2026, 19(7), 1302; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071302 - 25 Mar 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 460

Abstract

A methodology was developed to evaluate the behavior of reinforced concrete slabs used in temporary traffic bridge systems installed over uncured cement concrete pavement sections using highly scaled-down experimental reinforced concrete slabs. A full-scale reinforced concrete slab was first designed and its behavior, such as strain and deflection, was numerically analyzed. A small-scale reinforced concrete slab was then designed considering a dimensional reduction ratio of 1/6. When using this reduction ratio, there is no actual reduced size steel bar, so the smallest size steel bar available must be used for placement. Therefore, numerical analyses were performed to design the steel bar arrangement of the small-scale slab so that the same behavior as that of the full-scale slab occurred. To conduct experiments, small-scale experimental slabs were fabricated according to the design. Since the size of coarse aggregates must be reduced in concrete used for small-scale slabs, specimens using the concrete mix design for full-scale slabs were also produced and the compressive strengths were compared to confirm that the strengths were the same. Next, a study was conducted on the selection of strain gauges that can be used in small-scale slab experiments, and a method for installing displacement gauges to accurately measure slab deflection was also designed. Based on this series of basic studies, load tests were performed to measure the strains and deflections of small-scale slabs. Comparing the measured behavior of the small-scale slab with the numerical analysis results, it was confirmed that the same behavior was observed. Therefore, the experimental results and numerical analysis results of the small-scale slab were consistent, and the numerical analysis results of the small-scale slab and the full-scale slab were identical, proving that the experimental results of the full-scale slab can be inferred through experiments using the small-scale slab. This study confirmed that if small-scale slabs are designed and manufactured to appropriately reflect the characteristics of full-scale slabs, even though the process is challenging, the behavior of full-scale slabs can be approximately determined through experiments using small-scale slabs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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27 pages, 5415 KB

Open AccessArticle

Activation Efficiency and Restoration Effects of SBS Network-Repairing Regenerators on Aged Asphalt

by Mengmeng Jiang, Xin Yu, Ning Li, Jiandong Huang and Zhinan Cheng

Materials 2026, 19(5), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19050888 - 27 Feb 2026

Viewed by 363

Abstract

Although extensive research has been conducted on the regenerants for unmodified and SBS-modified asphalt, in-depth studies on the activation of regenerants to restore the SBS cross-linked network while preserving their diffusion performance have not yet been reported. This study quantitatively evaluated the activation effect of self-healing regenerants on SBS cross-linked networks by testing the activation degree of 6%, 8%, and 10% cross-linked networks with self-healing regenerants; the phase structure of SBS-modified asphalt before and after regeneration was examined using fluorescence microscopy (FM); the underlying mechanism of the reactive regenerant was elucidated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC); furthermore, the rheological response characteristics of the reactive regenerant and conventional regenerant were comparatively analyzed. The findings indicated that the SBS cross-linked network self-healing regenerant exhibited a more pronounced activation effect on aged asphalt. Specifically, when the dosage of the regenerant reaches 8%, its repairing effect on the cross-linked network becomes particularly significant. Reconstructing the cross-linked network structure of SBS-modified asphalt enabled the recovery of the viscoelastic properties of the recycled asphalt. Nevertheless, an excessive dosage of the regenerant failed to further enhance the cross-linked structure in a meaningful way and might even exert an adverse impact on the high-temperature performance of the recycled asphalt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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24 pages, 7904 KB

Open AccessArticle

SMA-13 Recycled Asphalt Mixtures with Flocculent Basalt Fiber: Experiment and Random Forest Analysis

by Yu Cai, Hong Sun, Zhipeng Tao, Kaimin Fu, Huajie Yin, Maomao Chen, Shenghan Zhuang and Jiaolong Ren

Materials 2026, 19(4), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19040649 - 8 Feb 2026

Viewed by 475

Abstract

Flocculent basalt fiber (FBF), a natural fiber characterized by high strength, excellent toughness, and environmental friendliness, is an ideal additive for enhancing the road performance of recycled asphalt mixtures. However, existing research on FBF-reinforced recycled asphalt mixtures has largely been limited to single-factor analyses of FBF content, neglecting the synergistic effects of FBF size characteristics (diameter and length) and content. This critical gap restricts the accurate optimization of FBF parameters and the reliable application of FBF in recycled asphalt mixtures. Hence, this study investigates the combined effects of FBF diameter, length, and content on the optimal asphalt–aggregate ratio, mechanical properties, high-temperature rutting resistance, low-temperature cracking resistance, and water stability of SMA-13 recycled asphalt mixtures. A random forest approach is adopted to quantify the relative importance of FBF diameter, length, and content on the optimal asphalt–aggregate ratio and various road performance indexes. The results show that the optimal asphalt–aggregate ratio and road performance indexes increase significantly with increasing FBF content and length but decrease with increasing FBF diameter, with minimal variation in replicate tests. However, when the fiber content surpasses 0.4%, a deterioration in performance occurs. Fiber content has the most significant impact on the optimal asphalt–aggregate ratio and overall road performance, followed by diameter and then length. The optimal fiber content is identified as 0.4% for fibers with a diameter of 6 µm (regardless of fiber length in this study) and 0.3% for fibers with a diameter of 3 µm and a length of 4 mm. These findings provide precise parameter guidance for engineering applications of FBF in SMA-13 recycled asphalt mixtures, thereby promoting the sustainable utilization of recycled materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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24 pages, 6227 KB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Prediction and Process Optimization of Aging-Resistant Rubber-Modified Asphalt via Enhanced BP Neural Network and Multi-Objective NSGA-II

by Shanwei Li, Shaojie Gao, Jiangtao Fan, Jiupeng Zhang and Yan Li

Materials 2025, 18(23), 5292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18235292 - 24 Nov 2025

Viewed by 885

Abstract

The complex nonlinear interplay between preparation parameters and macroscopic properties poses challenges for predicting the performance of anti-aging rubber asphalt. To address this, two bio-inspired algorithms—Crested Porcupine Optimizer (CPO) and Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO)—were integrated with a backpropagation (BP) neural network, forming CPO-BP and DBO-BP hybrid models for multi-target prediction. The CPO-BP model demonstrated superior predictive accuracy, significantly outperforming both the standard BP and DBO-BP models, which is attributed to its adaptive global-local optimization mechanism. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) analysis identified mixing temperature as the most influential factor, with elevated values enhancing rutting resistance but compromising ductility, while moderate temperatures improved aging resistance. Feature interactions indicated synergistic effects between mixing temperature and shear time, and a strong coupling effect between rubber content and temperature on low-temperature performance. Parameter optimization via Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) further enhanced high–low temperature stability and aging resistance, confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)-based microstructural characterization. The proposed approach provides a robust framework that integrates data-driven prediction and multi-objective optimization for the rational design of high-performance anti-aging rubber asphalt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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23 pages, 3114 KB

Open AccessArticle

Temperature-Dependent Models for Rutting Performance of Asphalt Pavement Surface Layer Materials Under Varying Load Conditions

by Jincai Yang, Guanqing Li, Yantao Chen, Zhentao Yan, Yue Wang, Shenghan Zhuang and Yingjun Jiang

Materials 2025, 18(20), 4708; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18204708 - 14 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1413

Abstract

In order to accurately characterize the temperature dependence of the high-temperature performance of asphalt pavement surface layer materials, this paper studies the effects of temperature, load, and number of actions on the high-temperature anti-rutting performance of asphalt pavement surface layer materials (AC-13 and AC-16 mixtures), based on indoor rutting tests, and constructs a high-temperature performance temperature-dependent model and rutting prediction model for surface layer materials. The results show that as the temperature increases, the dynamic stability of the mixture decreases in an S-shaped curve, and the rut depth increases exponentially. The temperature-dependent model transition temperatures for the dynamic stability of 70#, 50#, 30#, SBS, and HMB asphalt mixtures are 39 °C, 44 °C, 46 °C, 56 °C, and 56 °C, respectively. The dynamic stability of modified asphalt mixtures is significantly higher than that of base asphalt mixtures. The depth of wheel ruts is affected by temperature, load, and the number of actions. The variation ranges of the load index k_P, the temperature index k_T, and the number of actions index k_N are 0.727–1.222, 1.926–2.177, and 0.133–0.295, respectively. The correlation coefficients of the wheel rut prediction model are all above 0.95, and the depth of wheel ruts can be predicted by the model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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20 pages, 4891 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Rutting Formation Mechanisms and Influencing Factors in Asphalt Pavements Under Slow-Moving Heavy Loads

by Pu Li, Jiahao Fu, Linhao Sun, Jinchao Yue and Quansheng Zang

Materials 2025, 18(17), 4153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174153 - 4 Sep 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1982

Abstract

Increasing the frequency and duration of extreme heat events significantly compromises asphalt pavement performance, particularly in critical urban infrastructure such as heavily trafficked pavements, BRT lanes, and intersections subjected to slow-moving heavy traffic under extreme temperatures. This study systematically investigates rutting formation mechanisms through integrated theoretical and numerical approaches, addressing significant knowledge gaps regarding rutting evolution under coupled extreme-temperature (70 °C), heavy-load (100 kN–225 kN), and braking conditions (1 m/s²–7 m/s²). A three-dimensional thermo-mechanical finite element model integrating solar radiation heat transfer with the Bailey–Norton creep law was developed to quantify synergistic effects of axle loads, travel speeds, and braking accelerations. Results demonstrate that when the pavement surface temperature rises from 34 °C to 70 °C, the rutting depth is increased by 4.83 times. When the axle load is increased from 100 kN to 225 kN, the rutting of conventional asphalt pavements under 70 °C is increased by 56.4%. Rutting is exacerbated by braking acceleration; due to prolonged loading duration under low acceleration, the rutting depth is increased by 30–40% compared with that under emergency braking. These findings establish theoretical foundations for optimizing pavement design and material selection in slow-moving heavy-load environments, delivering significant engineering value for transportation infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application and Performance Evaluation (Second Edition))

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