Evaluation for Low Temperature Performance of SBS Modified Asphalt by Dynamic Shear Rheometer Method

Abstract

Finding an alternative or supplementary test method to evaluating the low temperature performance of asphalt is an area of considerable interest. This paper tries to explore the possibility of using the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) method for assessing the low temperature properties of styrenebutadienestyrene (SBS) modified asphalt. In the study, 60/80 and 80/100 pen grade asphalt binders, named binder A-70, binder B-70 and binder C-90, are used to produce the SBS modified asphalt samples. After that, the low temperature performance of the asphalt binders is characterized by using bending beam rheometer (BBR) test. The results indicate that the low temperature performance of the different binders is related to the source of the binder. The low temperature performance of asphalt could be improved with the addition of the SBS. The DSR test is used to develop the complex modulus master curves for binders. Based on the principle of time–temperature conversion, the glass transition temperature of asphalt is calculated by the Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) of base asphalt and the SBS modified asphalt are determined by the viscoelastic parameters of the master curve and the WLF equation coefficients based on the time–temperature superposition principle. By establishing the relationship between the critical temperature and the Tg of the asphalt binder, the effectiveness of the method established in this paper is verified. The advantage of this method is the ability to use the DSR test for the rapid evaluation of the low temperature performance of asphalt, which is able to reduce testing materials and save testing time as well. The glass transition temperature of the SBS modified asphalt is closely associated with aging degree, asphalt source and the SBS content.