Evaluation of Performance on Crumb-Rubber-Modified Asphalt Mixture

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance of crumb-rubber-modified (CRM) asphalt mixture. Two different asphalt mixtures containing two types of asphalt binder (#90 original asphalt and CRM asphalt) were used to prepare Marshall specimens and determine optimum asphalt content. Mechanical performances of asphalt mixes were evaluated by the wheel rutting test (WRT) (dynamic stability (DS)), midpoint beam bend test (MBBT), at low temperature, and indirect tensile test (IDT), at the freezing and thawing cycle. Superpave gyratory compactor (SGC) specimens were also prepared for the modulus test. Using the simple performance test (SPT) and universal testing system (UTS), viscoelastic mechanical characteristics were evaluated by static and dynamic modulus tests. Static modulus (E) data were measured by the un-confinement uniaxial compression test according to the specification of China. Moreover, dynamic modulus (E0) data were obtained by SPT. The crumb-rubber content varies from 0, 10 %, 20 %, to 30 % at the static modulus test. Two test temperatures were selected for the dynamic modulus test. The results indicated that the CRM asphalt mixture performs better than the standard asphalt mixture on dynamic behavior, rutting resistance, cracking resistance, and moisture stability.