Laboratory evaluation of pavement performance using modified asphalt mixture with a new composite reinforcing material

Abstract

As a new way of modifying asphalt or asphalt mixture, composite modification has obvious effects. In order to improve the performance of asphalt pavement in a simple, fast and efficient way, a new kind of composite reinforcing material (CRM) is used in this study. The Marshall Immersion test, the freeze–thaw splitting test and low-temperature bending test were conducted to evaluate the pavement performance of the asphalt mixture with different CRM contents. Test results show that the pavement performance of modified asphalt mixtures is better than unmodified asphalt mixture. When the CRM content increases, resistance to rutting at a high temperature increases significantly, low temperature cracking resistance and moisture damage resistance first rise and then fall. In consideration of other pavement performance, such as dynamic stability (DS), indirect tensile strength ratio (TSR) and maximum tensile strain, the suggested optimal CRM dosage is 5.9‰ to 7.9‰.