Performance evaluation of polymer modified asphalt (PMA) binders containing ground tire rubber (GTR)

Abstract

The study presents an experimental evaluation of performance properties of rubberized polymer modified asphalt (PMA) binders to compare two types of ground tire rubber (GTR): normal and treated. Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt binder (PG 76-22) is used as a base PMA binder to produce rubberized PMA binder. The rubberized PMA binders were artificially short-term and long-term aged using the rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and pressure aging vessel (PAV) procedures. Superpave binder tests were carried out on the binders through the rotational viscometer (RV), the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and the bending beam rheometer (BBR). Additionally, the multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test was accomplished to investigate the rutting properties. In general, the results of this study indicated that (1) the viscosity properties are found to be dependent on GTR types and amounts, as expected, (2) the rutting properties of PMA binders are expected to be improved through the use of GTR, (3) the addition of GTR is observed to be effective in improving the cracking performances of PMA binder, and (4) in general, the PMA binders with treated GTR showed better performance properties, compared to the PMA binders with normal GTR.