Comparison of the Fatigue Performance of Asphalt Mixtures Considering Self-Healing

Abstract

The fatigue performance of base asphalt mixture (AC-13), asphalt rubber mixture (ARAC-13), and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt mixture (SBS-AC13) were characterized using four-point blending fatigue test. The fatigue performance comparison considering self-healing or not were performed between AC-13, ARAC-13, and SBS-AC13, which were prepared at certain designed air void for each kind of mixture. Besides, comparison between AC-13, ARAC-13, and SBS-AC13 with the same asphalt content was also conducted. Furthermore, wheel tracking test was conducted to characterize high temperature performance as supplementary. Fatigue life of ARAC-13 is much better than SBS-AC13 and AC-13 at designed air void whether or not self-healing is considered meanwhile self-healing capacity coincides with the fatigue life ranking. For mixtures with the same asphalt content, SBS-AC13 offers better fatigue performance over ARAC-13 whether or not self-healing is considered while ARAC-13 offers advantage over SBS-AC13 with respect to self-healing capacity. The fitted fatigue equations show that the fatigue life is sensitivity to strain, asphalt content, and air void whether self-healing is considered or not. The high temperature performance of ARAC-13 is a little better than that of SBS-AC13. In general, ARAC-13 is recommended considering its excellent fatigue performance and self-healing capacity, meanwhile its high temperature performance satisfies demand.