Predict the rheological properties of aged asphalt binders using a universal kinetic model

Abstract

In this study, universal models were proposed to predict the aging behaviors of five different asphalt binders, where the rheological properties were emphasized on. The carbonyl content and crossover modulus of binders during oxidative aging process were predicted using the proposed universal kinetic models. The carbonyl content test using the Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique and the frequency sweep test using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) were performed to obtain the optimum model parameters. From the testing results, the crossover modulus of binders under oxidative aging effect showed similar growth trend to the carbonyl content that follows the two-reaction kinetics of aging. An approximately linear relation was established between the log crossover frequency and the inverse of log crossover modulus. A sufficient good agreement was achieved between the measured and predicted results of carbonyl content and crossover modulus of asphalt binders at given aging temperature and duration. However, it lost a little prediction accuracy when using the universal model parameters, compared to the specific model parameters. Moreover, based on the calculated crossover modulus and crossover frequency, the complex shear modulus and phase angle were successfully predicted based on the Christensen-Anderson model. The proposed universal model provides an effective approach of predicting the rheological properties of aged asphalt binders.