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• A new fracture resistantce indicator was developed accounting for the crack growth rate. • Increasing the polyphosphoric acid dosage increases fracture resistance at low temperatures. • Asphalt fracture resistance was the highest when 1 wt.% polyphosphoric acid was added. This paper examines the effect of polyphosphoric acid (PPA) on asphalt's fracture properties. While PPA has been commonly used in the asphalt industry to increase the elasticity and stiffness of asphalt binder, its effects on fracture properties are not thoroughly understood. Fracture as relates to thermal cracking is often associated with asphalt binder rather than a stone skeleton. However, because PPA not only interacts with molecules of asphalt binder but also strongly interacts with stone aggregates due to its highly polar molecules, we hypothesize that the presence of PPA in asphalt will change both bulk and interface properties in asphalt composites, which consequently alter asphalt fracture properties. To test this hypothesis, various PPA dosages (0.5–1.5% wt.) were introduced to the original asphalt binder, and thermo-mechanical and fracture properties of asphalt binder and asphalt mixture were examined. The study results showed that introducing up to 1% PPA enhances the asphalt resistance to fracture; however, excessive PPA weakens the asphalt against cracking. Considering that polar molecules of bitumen supersede others to adsorb to stone aggregate surfaces, the observed weakening effect could be attributed to PPA's preferential adsorption to stone aggregate surfaces compared to those of asphalt binder. The study outcomes provide insights pertaining to PPA's role and its interplay with other components in asphalt pavements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fractional viscoelastic model can characterize low-temperature mechanical behaviour of bio-modified bitumen. • Bio-modifiers effects on bitumen's properties is highly source dependent. • Bio-modifiers have positive effect on bitumen performance at low service temperatures. • Bio-modifiers enhance bitumen behaviour during both creep-loading and relaxation. Cracks associated with large temperature fluctuation especially in cold regions are among prevalent pavement distresses. Binder rheology is typically found to the key factor affecting low temperature cracking resistance. Recognizing the importance of binder properties, many road authorities are requiring the use of special additives to enhance low temperature properties of binder to alleviate low temperature cracking problems. However, most of these modifiers are petroleum-based products with unstable price and depleting resources. Therefore, the asphalt industry is looking for renewable alternatives for modifying bitumen and improving its low temperature performance. Accordingly, this paper incorporates laboratory experiments and modeling to study merits of modifying bitumen with several bio-binders to enhance low temperature properties of bitumen. To investigate rheological properties at low temperatures, an extended bending beam rheometer test was used incorporating a simple fractional viscoelastic model based on the general power law. The data collected during loading and unloading portion of the test was used to evaluate the effect of introduction of bio-modifiers on low temperature properties of bitumen. The experimental results showed that introduction of bio-modifiers to bitumen significantly enhanced bitumen behavior both during creep loading and relaxation. The results of finite element modeling based on the extended bending beam rheometer geometry and boundary conditions proved that the simple fractional viscoelastic model can accurately characterize low-temperature mechanical behavior of bio-modified bitumen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]