Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.8
3.1
Journals
Materials
Special Issues
Innovative Approaches in Asphalt Binder Modification and Performance
materials-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Materials Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Innovative Approaches in Asphalt Binder Modification and Performance

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 1392

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yong Wen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Interests: asphalt aging behavior and mechanism; green and environmentally friendly materials; asphalt pavement
Dr. Xiaokang Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Interests: pavement material; asphalt pavement; fatigue damage; meso-scale simulation; micro scale characteristic; discrete element method; mesoscopic cracking
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Asphalt binders are essential to the performance and longevity of road pavements, yet traditional binders face challenges such as aging, temperature fluctuations, and increasing traffic loads. To overcome these limitations, innovative approaches in binder modification, using polymers, nanomaterials, and bio-based additives, have emerged, significantly improving the mechanical and rheological properties of asphalt. These advancements enhance resistance to deformation, cracking, and environmental degradation, leading to more durable and resilient pavements.

In parallel, sustainable practices in binder modification are gaining attention. Researchers are exploring the use of recycled materials and environmentally friendly additives to reduce the ecological impact of pavement construction without compromising performance. Additionally, advanced characterization and testing methods are enabling more precise assessments of binder behavior, optimizing formulations for different climates and conditions.

This Special Issue invites original research and reviews on innovative approaches in asphalt binder modification and performance, including the following topics:

  • Novel modifiers for asphalt binders;
  • Advanced technologies in binder modification;
  • Performance evaluation and testing methods;
  • Durability and aging studies;
  • Sustainable approaches in binder modification.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to advance pavement engineering and infrastructure sustainability.

Dr. Yong Wen
Dr. Xiaokang Zhao
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind 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 modification
  • innovative materials
  • performance evaluation
  • pavement engineering
  • sustainable additives

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 2269 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Rutting and Aging Performance of Gap-Graded Rubberized Asphalt Mixtures
by Marek Pszczola and Bohdan Dolzycki
Materials 2025, 18(10), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18102263 - 13 May 2025
Viewed by 227
Abstract
Gap-graded asphalt mixtures like stone mastic asphalt (SMA), porous asphalt (PA), and asphalt mixtures for very thin layers (fr. Béton Bitumineuse Très Mince—BBTM) are usually made with the use of SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) polymer-modified bitumen. This is a binder that allows one to achieve [...] Read more.
Gap-graded asphalt mixtures like stone mastic asphalt (SMA), porous asphalt (PA), and asphalt mixtures for very thin layers (fr. Béton Bitumineuse Très Mince—BBTM) are usually made with the use of SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) polymer-modified bitumen. This is a binder that allows one to achieve the required parameters, but at the same time, its use increases the costs of making pavement layers. An alternative to polymer-modified bitumen (SBS) is rubber-modified bitumen. The research presented in this publication includes an assessment of the resistance to permanent deformation and susceptibility to aging of SMA and porous asphalt (PA) mixtures containing both SBS polymer-modified bitumen and rubber-modified bitumen, where the modification process was carried out directly in the refinery. The laboratory tests of resistance to deformation were assessed based on the rutting test and on the assessment of the dynamic modulus (SPT). The changes in the tested asphalt mixtures after aging in laboratory conditions were assessed based on the changes in the stiffness modulus (IT-CY) and the changes in the indirect tensile strength (ITS) after the short-term and long-term aging processes. The presented research results clearly show that the use of rubber-modified bitumen produced in industrial conditions (i.e., in a refinery) allows one to obtain gap-graded mixtures that are as resistant to permanent deformation as mixtures containing SBS polymer-modified bitumen. Similar conclusions resulted from the study of susceptibility to aging. Changes after aging for both types of asphalt mixtures were at a similar level. The presented results clearly indicate that, in the case of gap-graded mixtures such as SMA- and PA-type mixtures, they meet the rutting and aging expectations when either expensive modified bitumen or a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative (rubber-modified bitumen) is used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Asphalt Binder Modification and Performance)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5139 KiB  
Article
Effects of Complex Environmental Conditions on Fatigue Self-Healing Properties of Fast-Melting SBS-Modified Asphalt
by Jinchao Yue, Jiahao Fu, Yihan Wang, Yang Ming, Guoqi Tang and Ruixia Li
Materials 2025, 18(9), 2157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18092157 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 161
Abstract
Asphalt pavements are prone to various distresses under complex environmental influences during service, which significantly affects their fatigue life. This study conducted complex environmental simulation tests, including pressure aging, ultraviolet (UV) aging, and coupling effects with salt solutions at different concentrations. A dynamic [...] Read more.
Asphalt pavements are prone to various distresses under complex environmental influences during service, which significantly affects their fatigue life. This study conducted complex environmental simulation tests, including pressure aging, ultraviolet (UV) aging, and coupling effects with salt solutions at different concentrations. A dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) was employed to perform frequency sweep tests, linear amplitude sweep (LAS) tests, and fatigue–healing–fatigue tests. The fatigue self-healing properties of fast-melting SBS (SBS-T)-modified asphalt were evaluated based on the viscoelastic continuous damage theory. The results indicate that coupled aging effects significantly increase the viscoelastic characteristic parameters of SBS-T-modified asphalt, with more elastic components transforming into viscous components. Compared to other aging effects, the coupled pressure-UV-salt solution condition induces the most severe degradation in the fatigue durability of SBS-T-modified asphalt. Simultaneously, the self-healing capability of aged asphalt is also reduced. Specifically, with increasing strain, more complex aging conditions lead to the faster deterioration of asphalt fatigue life and lower self-healing capacity. While asphalt demonstrates measurable fatigue life restoration through self-healing, the synergistic coupling of salt solution exposure and multi-factor aging significantly compromises both the absolute fatigue resistance and the relative recovery efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Asphalt Binder Modification and Performance)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4327 KiB  
Article
Suitable Granular Road Base from Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement
by Oswaldo Guerrero-Bustamante, Amparo Guillen, Fernando Moreno-Navarro, M. C. Rubio-Gámez and Miguel Sol-Sánchez
Materials 2025, 18(4), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18040854 - 15 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 597
Abstract
The granular bases commonly used in the construction of road infrastructure projects often require a high consumption of raw materials. The potential utilization of recycled materials, specifically Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) derived from road asphalt pavement demolition, emerges as a promising sustainable advantage [...] Read more.
The granular bases commonly used in the construction of road infrastructure projects often require a high consumption of raw materials. The potential utilization of recycled materials, specifically Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) derived from road asphalt pavement demolition, emerges as a promising sustainable advantage for infrastructure projects, considering its potential environmental and cost benefits in other layers of the structure. In this context, this research proposes a feasibility study on the use of RAP as a granular base layer, supported by an advanced laboratory analysis that includes a range of tests simulating the in-service conditions as well as a full-scale demonstration of the material behavior under static and dynamic loads. Various design variables, such as different gradations and binder content, are considered. The results demonstrate that, despite having discontinuous gradation and smaller aggregate sizes than those commonly applied in natural base layers, the evaluated recycled materials exhibit a higher load-bearing capacity and resistance to permanent deformation than the reference materials commonly used as granular bases. Notable enhancements of up to 30% in elastic modulus, coupled with reductions of around 20% in permanent deformations, have been documented using the asphalt cement potential in the old pavement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Asphalt Binder Modification and Performance)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop