Exploration of road temperature-adjustment material in asphalt mixture

Abstract

Road temperature-adjustment material (RTM) was studied in this research to adjust the working temperature for asphalt mixture. The RTM is constituted from the solid–liquid phase change material (PCM) as the main component of unsaturated organic acid and the polypropylene carrier. The effect of RTM on the working temperature of asphalt mixture was analysed by monotonic cooling test, cooling–heating cycle test and field simulation cycle test. Results of monotonic cooling and cooling–heating cycle tests indicated that RTM mixed into asphalt mixture helped to reduce the amplitude of temperature variation in the cooling and heating process, and also postponed the extreme temperature appearance time. Results of field simulation test showed that RTM helped to decrease the highest temperature during the heating process and increase the lowest temperature during the cooling process, which reduced the temperature adverse impact on asphalt mixture. Test results indicated that asphalt mixture with RTM actively adjusted the working temperature with damping effect, and also enhanced the temperature resistance capacity for asphalt mixture as well as improved asphalt mixture's adaptability to the changing environment. Therefore, RTM is an inspiration and new method to solve the worldwide problems of low-temperature cracking and high-temperature deformation of asphalt pavement in the future.