Performance comparison of warm mix asphalt for plateau area

Abstract

The warm mix asphalt (WMA) technology is commonly applied for highway pavements in high-altitude plateau regions in China, where extreme weather conditions are common. The study is to evaluate the performance of WMA with different additives in the areas. The tests show that all the additives could reduce the viscosity of asphalt binder to reduce the mixing and compacting temperature of asphalt mixture. The solid additives could also decrease the penetration and ductility value, and increase the softening point and the PG high temperature of asphalt binder; therefore, are suitable for improving the high-temperature performance of WMA in the high-temperature regions. However, the surface-active liquid additives are suitable in the plateau areas in low-temperature conditions. The lab data for the Ya-Kang highway pavement to Tibet Plateau show it is suitable to control the mixing temperature at about 20°C lower than the normal hot mix asphalt during the construction period.