Effect of cement and emulsified asphalt contents on the performance of cement-emulsified asphalt mixture

Abstract

The effects of cement and emulsified asphalt contents on the performance of cement-emulsified asphalt mixture were systematically evaluated, including the indirect tensile strength, compressive strength, modulus of resilience, tensile strength ratio, dynamic stability, maximum bending strain, and Cantabro loss. In addition, the mesoscopic images and void characteristics of cement-emulsified asphalt mixtures with different material compositions were obtained, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and computed tomography (CT). The results indicated that at a constant cement content of 3%, when the emulsified asphalt content increased from 6% to 9%, the indirect tensile strength, compressive strength, and modulus of resilience first increased and then decreased. At a constant emulsified asphalt content of 8%, when the cement content increased from 0% to 4%, the indirect tensile strength first increased and then decreased, and the compressive strength and modulus of resilience each reached its maximum at a cement content of 3%. The addition of cement significantly improved the high-temperature stability and moisture stability of the asphalt mixture but was not conducive to its low-temperature performance. In addition, a minimum Cantabro loss was observed at a cement content between 2% and 3%. The mesoscopic void structures formed in different cement and emulsified asphalt contents also significantly affected the mechanical properties and mixture performances.