Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Pre-Treated Dry-Process Rubber-Modified Asphalt Binders and Dense-Graded Mixtures

Abstract

Pre-treatment of ground tire rubber is emerging as a popular method to incorporate rubber particles in dense-graded asphalt mixtures. This study investigates the effects of a chemically engineered Dry-Process Ground Tire Rubber (DP-GTR) modification in asphalt binders and mixtures. The DP-GTR is comprised of rubber particles measuring 400 to 600 µm in diameter (minus #30 mesh) coated with a non-elastomeric liquid. No change in aggregate gradation is necessary in DP-GTR modification of asphalt mixtures. In this study, the effects of DP-GTR modification on binder properties were measured by dynamic shear rheometer, Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery (MSCR), and bending beam rheometer tests. Additionally, mixture properties measured by three cracking tests: Disk-shaped Compact Tension (DC[T]) test, Illinois Flexibility Index, and indirect tensile asphalt cracking test and one rutting test (Hamburg wheel track test) were evaluated. Results showed: (a) 10–12°C bump on binder high temperature performance grade with 10% DP-GTR modification by weight of binder; (b) improvement in non-recoverable compliance in MSCR test indicated higher rut resistance; (c) increase in DC(T) fracture energy at low temperatures; (d) decrease in rut depth; and (e) decrease in flexibility index and cracking test index. Field performance of the chemically treated DP-GTR sections located in different states was examined to address discrepancies observed in the cracking tests. The cracking and rutting performance of all the field sections was good-to-excellent, suggesting that some of the currently popular simple cracking tests may not be able to properly assess the cracking resistance inherent in GTR-modified asphalt mixtures.