Relations between Rheological Properties of Asphalt Cement and Mechanical Properties of their Mixtures

Abstract

This paper describes relations between the rheological properties of asphalt cement and their mixtures. The mechanical properties of mixtures were obtained by means of wheel tracking test and quick bending test, while the properties of asphalt cement were measured by viscosity test, stiffness test, softening point, Fraass breaking point and others. The consistency of asphalt cement are represented by the equi-viscous temperature, equi-stiffness temperature, viscosity at softening point and others.The following conclusions were reached:(1) Viscosity and equi-viscous temperature of binder were closely related with the stability of mixtures.(2) Rupture strain at the transition point of mixture increased with the decrease of volume concentration of aggregate.(3) Rupture strain at the transition point of mixture was found in the range of 0.004-0.006cm/cm, independent from the difference of rheological properties of binder and the rate of strain.(4) The higher the penetration index, the lower transition point, and the higher dynamic stability of mixture, but the attention should be paid to the fact that the high penetration index results in the poor workability of mixture.