Rutting characteristics of styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene polymer modified asphalt

Mohammad Rahi, Ellie H. Fini, Pouria Hajikarimi, Fereidoon Moghadas Nejad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Asphalt binder resistance to permanent deformation at intermediate temperature significantly affects overall pavement resistance to rutting. To enhance asphalt resistance to permanent deformation, researchers have used various modifiers and additives such as styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) block copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), and natural rubber latex. In this paper, the effectiveness of modification of asphalt binder by styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene (SEPS) in order to enhance asphalt binder's resistance to permanent deformation has been investigated using two different evaluation methods: the Superpave specification parameter, G*/sin δ, and the cross model for calculating zero shear viscosity (ZSV). The experiments were conducted using dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) frequency sweep test performed on both the neat sample and modified ones at 40, 50, and 60°C. Utilizing these two approaches, rutting resistance of modified asphalt binders are determined and then normalized using the rutting resistance of the neat asphalt binder as the control data in order to calculate the rutting resistance improvement ratio. The research results showed that regardless of the evaluation method, SEPS can significantly improve anti-rutting performance of asphalt binder. However, it was found that ranking of modified asphalt binders according to the two approaches is different.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number04014154
JournalJournal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Pavement distress
  • Permanent deformation
  • Pseudoplastic
  • Rheology
  • Rutting resistance
  • Styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene (SEPS)
  • The cross model
  • Zero shear viscosity (ZSV)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction
  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials

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