Laboratory investigation of the performance of binders and asphalt mixtures modified by carbon nano tube, poly phosphoric acid, and styrene butadiene rubber

Abstract

This study evaluated the performance characteristics of binders and Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) Mixtures modified by Poly Phosphoric Acid (PPA), Carbon Nano Tube (CNT), and Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR). In order to investigate the rheological behavior of bitumens, linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS), rotational viscosity, Dynamic Shear Rheometer, Bending Beam Rheometer, Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR), and storage stability tests were implemented. Moreover, Resilient modulus (Mr), Indirect tensile strength (ITS), dynamic creep, wheel track, and Four-Point Beam Fatigue (FPBF) tests were performed to investigate the properties of asphalt mixtures. LAS and MSCR tests result revealed that the addition of SBR/PPA and CNT leads to improved fatigue life and rutting properties of binders at both strain levels. Additionally it was found that modification of SBR/PPA with 85–100 binder enhances the intermediate temperature behavior of bitumens. The results indicate that the addition of SBR/PPA enhances the Mr, rutting properties, ITS, fracture energy, and fatigue performance of specimens. By increasing the CNT contents, the rutting behavior improves.