Comprehensive Evaluation of Fatigue Performance of Modified Asphalt Mixtures in Different Fatigue Tests

Abstract

The four-point bending beam fatigue test (4PB), two-point bending trapezoidal beam fatigue test (Trapezoidal Beam), and Overlay Tester (OT) are used to evaluate the fatigue performance of six kinds of asphalt mixtures that are widely used in engineering, and newly developed ones. The result shows that, in all three kinds of fatigue tests, the fatigue performances of the 6% SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer) modified asphalt mixture is the best, and those of the 10% WPE (waxed polyethylene) + 3% SBS, 4% SBS + 0.4% PA610, and 4% SBS modified asphalt mixture are good. The fatigue performances of the warm modified mixing agent and the base asphalt mixture are the worst. An increase in SBS content can effectively improve the fatigue performance of the asphalt mixture. The fatigue performance of the SBS-modified asphalt mixture can be improved by the addition of WPE and PA610. In different tests, the ranking of fatigue performance of the asphalt mixture is similar, and the specific ranking is slightly different. The three different fatigue tests can be used simultaneously to obtain a more comprehensive and objective evaluation in the R&D process for a new modified asphalt. The three fatigue tests process shows that more precise forming and cutting technology is needed, as the strain range used in the 4PB test is very wide, and the number of samples used in each group is small. The preparation of the Trapezoidal Beam test samples is complex; the amount of test data is huge and has high precision, which is suitable for scientific research instead of a field laboratory, and the strain range of the test is moderate in the three methods. The strain range of the OT test is the narrowest; the test specimen is relatively simple to prepare, and the fatigue performance of a specific modified asphalt mixture can be obtained quickly in a simple laboratory.