Creep characteristics of crumb rubber modified asphalt binder

Abstract

Crumb rubber modified asphalt containing 20 percent crumb rubber particles of 30 mesh has been examined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to observe the microcosmic appearance and the characteristic distribution of crumb rubber particles in asphalt. The SEM pictures reveal that the crumb rubber particles distribute evenly in the asphalt and they are compatible well with asphalt. The shear creep test of crumb rubber modified asphalt was carried out at −10 °C and 40 °C by Dynamic Shear Rheology (DSR). The shearing deformation at different temperature and creep stiffness modulus curve at loading stage of crumb rubber modified asphalt have been measured. The stiffness modulus of crumb rubber modified asphalt is much temperature sensitive and it decays much quick at the early stage of loading than normal asphalt. The rate of decay of stiffness modulus is slow at the subsequent stage and stiffness modulus approaches to a stable value at the final stage at a higher temperature. In addition, Burgers model is suitable to describe and simulate experimental results of viscoelastic properties of the crumb rubber modified asphalt.