Effects of the Water-Based Foaming Process on the Basic and Rheological Properties of Bitumen 70/100

The process of water-based foaming of bitumen produces binders that can be incorporated in cold recycled asphalt mixes and pavement upper structural layers made of half-warm mix asphalt prepared at 100–130 °C. During the foaming process, cold water and air act on hot bitumen (160–170 °C), which results in the explosive vaporization of water leading to changes in the binder structure. The impact of foaming on the properties of bitumen 70/100 was evaluated by investigating the binder characteristics before and after foaming. Determination of two foaming parameters, maximum expansion and half-life, was followed by measurements of penetration at 25 °C, softening point, Fraass breaking point, and dynamic viscosity at 60, 90, and 135 °C. Rheological and low-temperature tests were also performed before and after foaming bitumen 70/100. The Bending Beam Rheometer method was applied to determine the low temperature stiffness modulus. A DHR-2 rheometer was used to determine the dynamic modulus and phase angle of the tested binder. The Black and master curves before and after foaming were plotted in the 2S2P1D model and the model parameters were analysed. Analysis of the test results confirmed the effects of the foaming process on the basic, low-temperature, and rheological characteristics of the bitumen.

From Complex Modulus E* to Creep Compliance D(t): Experimental and Modeling Study

Creep compliance (D(t)) is a very important input for the thermal cracking resistance in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). The aim of the work presented here is to predict the results of creep compliance D(t) from the result of complex modulus E*(ω). The work plan is divided in two main parts: an experimental part consisting of creep tests, and a modeling part. Three configurations were compared together, namely direct tensile, direct compression and indirect tensile tests. The modelling part consists of using a 2S2P1D model coupled to Kopelman approximation to switch from the frequency domain to the time domain. Additionally, 2S2P1D was used to calibrate the generalized Kelvin–Voigt model and get the creep compliance directly from E* results. The experimental results show that D(t) from direct tensile and direct compression are the same in the viscoelastic domain and are greater than D(t) from the indirect tensile test. The indirect tensile test (IDT) seems to be very difficult to achieve compared to the other two variants. The converted results using the 2S2P1D model coupled to Kopelman approximation and the results from the GKV model describe the experimental points very well.

2S2P1D Model Calibration Error from User Panel for One Bitumen and One Bituminous Mixture

The objective of this study is to analyse the differences between experimental LVE properties of both a straight-run bitumen and a bituminous mixture and simulations with analogical 2S2P1D (2 Springs, 2 Parabolic elements, and 1 Dashpot) model fitted by 14 different users. Data for the bitumen consisted of isotherms of G∗ and φ obtained from DSR complex modulus tests at 12 different temperatures ranging from −29.9°C to 60.0°C and frequencies ranging from 6.3 to 40 Hz, for a total of 60 data points. Data for the bituminous mixture consisted of isotherms of E∗ and φ obtained from strain-controlled traction/compression complex modulus tests at 8 different temperatures ranging from −29.7°C to 38.8°C and frequencies ranging from 0.01 to 10 Hz, for a total of 55 data points. All users worked independently and for the same time duration of one hour to fit the 2S2P1D model on both sets of data. Successful simulations of experimental data of both bitumen and mixture were generally obtained by all the users over the whole range of frequencies and temperatures, regardless of their familiarity and experience with the model. The accuracy of the model to fit experimental data is all the more evident if the great spans of complex modulus (G∗ of the bitumen between 10−2 and 103 MPa, E∗ of the mixture between 10 and 40000 MPa) are considered. The obtained results highlight the convenience of 2S2P1D model to perform multiscale modelling of LVE behaviour of bituminous materials, from bitumens to mixtures.

Mesostructural Modeling of Dynamic Modulus and Phase Angle Master Curves of Rubber Modified Asphalt Mixture

The main objective of this paper was to develop a mesostructure-based finite element model of rubber modified asphalt mixture to predict both the dynamic modulus master curve and phase angle master curve under a large frequency range. The asphalt mixture is considered as a three-phase material consisting of aggregate, asphalt mortar, and air void. The mesostructure of the asphalt mixture was digitized by a computed tomography (CT) scan and implemented into finite element software. The 2S2P1D model was used to obtain the viscoelastic information of an asphalt mortar under a large range of frequencies and temperatures. The continuous spectrum of the 2S2P1D model was converted to a discrete spectrum and characterized by the generalized Maxwell model for numerical simulation. The Prony series parameters of the generalized Maxwell model and the elastic modulus of the aggregates were inputted into the finite element analysis as material properties. The dynamic modulus tests of a rubber modified asphalt mortar and asphalt mixture were conducted under different temperatures and loading frequencies. The dynamic modulus master curve and phase angle master curve of both asphalt mortar and asphalt mixture were constructed. The frequency of the finite element simulations of the dynamic modulus tests ranged from 10−6 to 104. The dynamic modulus and phase angle of the asphalt mixture was calculated and the master curves were compared with the master curves obtained from the experimental data. Furthermore, the effect of the elastic modulus of aggregates on the master curves was analyzed. Acceptable agreement between dynamic modulus master curves obtained from experimental data and simulation results was achieved. However, large errors between phase angle master curves appeared at low frequencies. A method was proposed to improve the prediction of the phase angle master curve by adjusting the equilibrium modulus of the asphalt mortar.

The 2S2P1D: An Excellent Linear Viscoelastic Model

An experimental campaign has been carried out on five different unaged and five aged penetration grade bitumens to determine the properties of the 2S2P1D (combinations of two springs, two parabolic elements and one dashpot) model. The dynamic oscillatory test was conducted in order to obtain the rheological data using the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). Earlier, the samples were aged following the Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTOFT) test procedure. It was found that the 2S2P1D model which consists of seven parameters simulates in an excellent way the linear viscoelastic properties of aged and unaged penetration grade bitumens over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies. The goodness of fit statistical analysis showed that the model had a good correlation and comparable to the measured dynamic data.