Relationship Between Linear Viscoelastic Properties of Asphalt Binders and Corresponding Mixtures

Abstract

Many factors affect asphalt mixtures performance, such as aggregates and binder type. Both binder and mixture have linear viscoelastic (LVE) behavior under small strain and small loading cycles number. For the characterization of the LVE behavior of such materials, complex modulus measurements can be used (sinusoidal loading tests). The LVE properties depend on time and temperature. The 2S2P1D (two springs, two parabolic elements, 1 dashpot) rheological model is capable of representing the complex modulus of asphalt materials at different scales (from binders to mixtures). The SHStS (Shift-Homothety-Shift in Time-Shift) method experimentally describes the relationship between the behavior of different scales of asphalt materials, and can be used in association with the 2S2P1D model. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the relationship between the LVE properties of binders and mixtures. The materials used in the research are: three binders and their corresponding asphalt mixtures, considering the same aggregate skeleton. The 2S2P1D model proved to be satisfactory for the modeling of the tested mixtures and binders. Out of the nine constants of the 2S2P1D model and WLF Equation fitted to the binder complex modulus results, six could be maintained for their respective mixtures. The variation of the other constants is well described by the SHStS transformation, which appears as a useful approach to obtain mixture behavior from binder behavior. By using the referred modeling approach, it was possible to relate the LVE behavior of mixtures and binders.