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Microscopic tests, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and two-piece healing (TPH) approaches were employed to investigate the interfacial intrinsic healing behavior and mechanisms of graphene-modified asphalt (GMA) binders at different aging levels. A vacuum layer 10-Å thick was injected between two molecules of asphalt binder to resemble a pattern of cracks. The mean squared displacement (MSD), molecular diffusion coefficient (D), and surface free energy (SFE) of asphalt molecules were utilized to evaluate the micro intrinsic healing behavior of asphalt binders. The macro intrinsic healing capacity of asphalt binders was determined using the intrinsic healing function [Rh(t)] developed from the TPH test. The GMA binder had a higher healing efficiency than the base binder in the short-term healing condition according to the density of the MD simulations, the SFE of the sessile drop method, and the initial healing rate (R0) of the TPH experiment. GMA binder had higher potential for instantaneous healing than the base binder because of its greater SFE in general. According to an analysis of parameters MSD, D , and Rh(t) quantified by MD simulations and TPH tests, the GMA binder had a greater capacity for long-term healing than the base binder after a long-term aging process. An R2 of 0.87 was obtained from the regression analysis of R0 against SFE, and an R2 of 0.93 was obtained from the regression analysis of Rh(3,600)−R0 against D. The experimental findings at the macroscopic scale and the simulation outcomes at the microscopic level were mutually supportive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline–alkaline solutions have a detrimental impact on the durability of bituminous pavements. Thus, it is important to understand the interaction between saline–alkaline environments and bitumen and investigate the corresponding interfacial characteristics. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to evaluate the interfacial interaction behavior between different saline–alkaline solutions and bitumen. The interaction energy, mean square displacement, interfacial molecular arrangement, and Na+ distribution were analyzed for different bitumen-solution systems. The results revealed that the interaction between bitumen and alkaline salt solutions is more powerful than between bitumen and neutral salt solutions. The damaging impact of different solutions on bitumen can be written as: alkaline salt solution > neutral salt solution > deionized water. Oxidative aging can further strengthen the interaction between saline solutions and bitumen. Bitumen molecules diffusion is the fastest in an alkaline salt solution, as indicated by the high diffusion coefficient. Furthermore, adsorption occurs at the interface between a neutral salt solution and bitumen, leading to interspersing of the salt and bitumen molecules. The water molecules and Na+ ions in an alkaline salt solution can penetrate the bitumen surface, leading to a more chaotic molecular arrangement at the interface. The interfacial film formed in the bitumen-alkaline solution system has the highest thickness owing to the extremely strong interaction. Furthermore, Na+ ions aggregate at the bitumen surface, and aging accelerates the diffusion of Na+ ions toward the bitumen surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both epoxy resin (ER) and SBS are considered effective pavement materials for avoiding ruts. However, epoxy resin asphalt suffers from poor low-temperate performance and a high material cost in practical applications. Aiming to tackle these issues, a new type of composite asphalt modifier (ER-SBS) has been fabricated by combining epoxy resin with SBS. This work prepared modified asphalt with different doping amounts using the above composite asphalt modifier (ER-SBS), intending to explore the properties of composite-modified asphalt and the modification mechanism of the modifier. Furthermore, the effects of the composite modifier at different doping amounts on the viscoelastic property of asphalt were explored through rheological tests, and then the prepared composite-modified asphalt was compared with matrix asphalt and SBS-modified asphalt. In addition, the modification mechanism of the composite modifier was investigated by fluorescence microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The difference in pavement performance between the composite-modified asphalt and SBS-modified asphalt was compared by a rut test and dynamic modulus test. The research results showed that the composite modifier improved the high- and low-temperature performances and viscoelastic property of matrix asphalt. When the doping amount was raised to 9%, the composite-modified asphalt exhibited better a modification effect than SBS-modified asphalt. The rut test results indicated that composite-modified asphalt demonstrated a stronger deformation resistance than SBS-modified asphalt. The dynamic modulus test showed that the composite-modified asphalt has better viscoelastic properties and temperature sensitivity. Fluorescence microscopy suggested that the crosslinking between the composite modifier and asphalt forms a mesh structure which greatly improves its resistance to deformation. From infrared spectroscopy, the composite modifier clearly functions as a physical modifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, fast-melting SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene)-modified asphalt is widely used in pavements. However, in practical applications, complex environmental factors accelerate the deterioration of asphalt material properties, significantly affecting the service life of roads during their operational period. This study aims to examine the effects of complex environmental factors, including thermal oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, and various concentrations of salt solutions, on the high and low-temperature rheological properties of fast-melting SBS-modified asphalt (abbreviated as SBS-T-modified asphalt). Pressure aging–ultraviolet aging coupling and pressure aging–ultraviolet aging different concentration salt solution coupling were selected as the aging groups to simulate complex environmental conditions. Additionally, base asphalt and pressure-aged asphalt were used as control groups. The rheological properties of SBS-T-modified asphalt were evaluated using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR). The results indicate that multiple-factor coupling aging reduces both the high-temperature and low-temperature performance of SBS-T-modified asphalt compared to single-factor aging, although the impact on rheological properties is not consistent across all conditions. After the combined effects of UV aging and pressure aging, the rutting resistance and high-temperature performance of SBS-T-modified asphalt are most severely impacted. However, when coupled with salt-solution aging, the rutting resistance of SBS-T-modified asphalt improves, with the complex modulus increasing by approximately 30%. This indicates that the presence of the salt solution enhances the high-temperature performance of the asphalt. An analysis of the low-temperature rheological properties of SBS-T-modified asphalt based on Burgers model shows that the low-temperature rheological performance of SBS-T-modified asphalt worsens under three-factor coupling aging compared to two-factor or single-factor aging, leading to poorer crack resistance. Notably, after adding salt solutions, the thermal sensitivity of SBS-T-modified asphalt increases significantly, with the ΔTc value decreasing approximately sixfold for every 2% increase in salt concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture accelerates the degradation of asphalt properties, significantly impacting the service life of roads. Therefore, this study uses simplified viscoelastic continuous damage theory and employs frequency scanning, linear amplitude scanning, and fatigue–healing–fatigue tests with a dynamic shear rheometer. The objective is to investigate the effects of aging time, moisture conditions, and aging temperature on the fatigue and self-healing performance of SBS (Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene block copolymer)-modified asphalt, nano-SiO2-modified asphalt, and nano-SiO2/SBS composite modified asphalt in a moisture-rich environment. The results indicate that nano-SiO2 powder enhances the low-temperature performance of modified asphalt, whereas the SBS modifier reduces temperature sensitivity and increases the recovery percentage after deformation. Compared to SBS-modified asphalt, the deformation resistance of nano-SiO2/SBS composite modified asphalt has increased by about 30%, while nano-SiO2-modified asphalt shows relatively poor deformation resistance. The fatigue performance of SBS-modified asphalt deteriorates under moisture, whereas the addition of nano-SiO2 powder improves its fatigue life. Nano-SiO2/SBS composite modified asphalt exhibits strong self-healing capabilities. Although self-healing can enhance the fatigue life of modified asphalt, moisture inhibits this improvement after self-healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehensively understand the impact of various environmental factors on the self-healing process of graphene-modified asphalt, this study employs molecular dynamics simulation methods to investigate the effects of aging degree (unaged, short-term aged, long-term aged), asphalt type (base asphalt, graphene-modified asphalt), healing temperature (20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C), and damage degree (5 Å, 10 Å, 15 Å) on the self-healing performance of asphalt. The validity of the established asphalt molecular models was verified based on four physical quantities: density, radial distribution function analysis, glass transition temperature, and cohesive energy density. The simulated healing time for the asphalt crack model was set to 200 ps. The following conclusions were drawn based on the changes in density, mean square displacement, and diffusion coefficient during the simulated healing process under different influencing factors: Dehydrogenation and oxidation of asphalt molecules during the aging process hinder molecular migration within the asphalt crack model, resulting in poorer self-healing performance. As the service life increases, the decline in the healing performance of graphene-modified asphalt is slower than that of base asphalt, indicating that graphene-modified asphalt has stronger anti-aging properties. When the vacuum layer in the asphalt crack model is small, the changes in the diffusion coefficient are less pronounced. As the crack width increases, the influence of various factors on the diffusion coefficient of the asphalt crack model becomes more significant. When the crack width is large, the self-healing effect of asphalt is more dependent on these influencing factors. Damage degree and oxidative aging have a more significant impact on the healing ability of graphene-modified asphalt than healing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a green and low-carbon road material, warm-mix rubber asphalt (WMRA) has received extensive attention from scholars for its road performance. In the in-depth study of its properties, the fatigue characteristics of WMRA are particularly critical. However, in current studies on asphalt fatigue performance, its self-healing ability is often underestimated or neglected. Furthermore, the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage theory (S-VECD), with its accuracy, speed, and convenience, provides a powerful tool for analyzing asphalt fatigue performance. Therefore, to analyze the fatigue and self-healing performances of WMRA in practical applications, four sample materials were selected in this study: virgin asphalt mastic (VAM), rubber asphalt mastic (RAM), Sasobit rubber asphalt mastic (SRAM), and Evotherm rubber asphalt mastic (ERAM). Subsequently, the samples were subjected to a comprehensive experimental design with frequency sweep tests, linear amplitude sweep tests, and multiple intermittent loading time sweep tests under different aging conditions. The fatigue and self-healing performances of different aging degrees and different types of WMRA were evaluated based on the S-VECD theory. The results show that aging reduces the fatigue and self-healing performances of asphalt mastic to a certain extent, and at a 7% strain, the fatigue life of SRAM after long-term aging is only 30.7% of the life of the unaged sample. The greater the aging degree, the more pronounced the effect. Under different aging levels, the warm-mix agent can significantly improve the fatigue and self-healing performances of rubber asphalt mastic. After undergoing ten fatigue intermittent loading tests, the recovery rate of the complex shear modulus for the long-term aged VAM was 0.65, which is lower than that of SRAM under the same conditions, and the warm mix can further extend the fatigue life of rubber asphalt by improving the self-healing properties of the asphalt. The role of Sasobit in enhancing the fatigue and self-healing performances of rubber asphalt mastic is more significant. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the promotion and application of WMRA pavements and contribute to the sustainable development of road construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-performance composite modifier ER-SBS-T was prepared through the mixing of epoxy resin with a fast-melting styrene–butadiene–styrene modifier (SBS-T) to enhance material properties. This study evaluated the fatigue characteristics of ER-SBS-T-modified asphalt using a linear amplitude sweep test, and 70# base asphalt, SBS-modified asphalt, and SBS-T-modified asphalt were used as control groups. The fatigue life of ER-SBS-T-modified asphalt was determined according to viscoelastic continuous damage (VECD) theory. The findings indicated that as the ER-SBS-T modifier content increased, both the maximum value and the cumulative damage limit value increased, while the rate of change of decreased. At strain levels of 2.5% and 1%, the fatigue life of the modified asphalt improved with increasing ER-SBS-T content. However, at a strain level of 5%, the modified asphalt exhibited no significant trend in fatigue life across different ER-SBS-T contents. ER-SBS-T-modified asphalt with a modifier content of >10% demonstrated favorable fatigue performance suitable for practical engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, asphalt pavement has been subjected to varied environmental conditions during its service life, conditions that predispose it to deformation and cracking. To enhance the performance of asphalt pavement, rock asphalt has been selected as a modifier due to its good compatibility with virgin asphalt binder and its ability to improve the fatigue cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures. Although scholars have conducted some studies on rock asphalt mixtures, research on the fatigue and self-healing performance of these mixtures under conditions such as ultraviolet (UV) aging and freeze–thaw remains limited. This paper presents findings from a study that employs a combined fatigue-healing test to assess the impact of such complex environmental factors on the fatigue and self-healing properties of fine aggregate matrix (FAM) mixtures containing three types of rock asphalts, i.e., Buton, Qingchuan (QC), and Uintaite Modifier (UM). The analysis of fatigue-healing test results, grounded in viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) theory, indicates that rock asphalt can extend the fatigue life of FAM mixtures, albeit with a concomitant decrease in their self-healing capabilities. The study further reveals that UV aging, freeze–thaw, and UV aging–freeze–thaw conditions all led to a diminution in the fatigue and self-healing properties of FAM mixtures. However, FAM mixtures containing rock asphalt demonstrated greater resilience against these reductions. Atomic force microscope (AFM) results indicate that UV aging reduced the number of bee-structures and enlarged their area, whereas the incorporation of rock asphalt enhanced the uniformity of these structures' distribution, thereby improving the fatigue cracking resistance of FAM mixtures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis reveals that while UV aging increased the carbonyl and sulfoxide indices within the asphalt binder, rock asphalt is effective in mitigating this effect to a certain degree, thereby enhancing the aging resistance of FAM mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast-melting styrene-butadiene-styrene-based modifier (SBS-T) was applied for rapid modification for asphalt mixtures. No relevant studies are available to support the effect of this new fast-melting modifier on asphalt-aggregate adhesion properties, and this paper is to remedy the assessment of the adhesive properties of the modified SBS modifier in asphalt mixtures. At the micro-scale, the sessile drop method is utilized to measure the contact angle of bitumen and aggregate and to compute thermodynamic parameters based on surface energy theory. Meanwhile, the effects of short-term and ultraviolet (UV) aging on the thermodynamic parameters of SBS-T modified asphalt (SBS-T-MA) were investigated. The asphalt-aggregate adhesion properties were further verified on a macro-scale scale by pull-off tests. The outcomes suggested that the higher the dosage of SBS-T modifier, the better the thermomechanical characteristics of the bitumen binder. The adhesive properties of SBS-T-MA and aggregates were promoted in short-term aging and decreased in UV aging. Statistical analysis of the pull-off test indicated a significant correlation between pull-off strength and energy ratio. It was demonstrated that adhesion damage occurred between asphalt and aggregate in the pull-off test and that the greater the energy ratio between asphalt and aggregate, the greater the asphalt-aggregate pull-off strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For brittle and quasi-brittle materials such as rock and concrete, the impact-resistance characteristics of the corresponding engineering structures are key to successful application under complex service environments. Modeling of concrete-like slab fractures under impact loading is helpful to analyze the failure mechanism of an engineering structure. In this paper, simulation models of impact tests of a cement mortar slab were developed, and a continuum–discontinuum element method (CDEM) was used for dynamic analysis. Concretely, the cracking simulations of a mortar slab when considering the hammer shape and impact velocity were conducted, and the impact process and failure results of the slab structure were analyzed. The results showed that the top fracture area of the mortar slab was significantly smaller than that of slab bottom under impact loadings of the drop hammer. The impact velocity was an important factor that affected the mortar slab's cracking. With the increase in the initial impact velocity, the effective fracture area of the slab structure increased significantly; the impact force and rupture degree of the mortar slab also showed a linear growth trend. The shapes of the impact hammerhead also had a significant effect on the crack model of the mortar slab. The effective fracture zones of slab structures were close under circular and square hammers, while the effective fracture zone was significantly larger under a rectangular hammer impact. The peak value (45.5 KN) of the impact force under a circular hammer was significantly smaller than the peak value (48.7 KN) of the impact force under the rectangular hammer. When considering the influence of the stress concentration of the impact hammerhead, the maximum impact stress of the rectangular hammer was 147.3 MPa, which was significantly greater than that of the circular hammer impact (maximum stress of 87.5 MPa). This may have meant that the slab structures were prone to a directional rupture that mainly propagated along the long axis of the rectangular hammerhead. This impact mode is therefore more suitable for rehabilitation and reconstruction projects of slab structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]