Performance-related and rheological characterisation of natural rubber modified bitumen

Wititanapanit, Jarurat; Carvajal-Munoz, Juan S.; Airey, Gordon

Abstract

This paper is motivated by the limited research available evaluating the comprehensive effects of natural rubber bitumen modification (NR) for pavement applications. A detailed laboratory programme was carried out to evaluate the influence of NR on the high-intermediate-low temperature performance, including rheological characterisations and performance-related tests (fatigue cracking, thermal cracking, fracture and permanent deformation resistance). The main findings indicate some beneficial effects of NR on the performance-related response for fatigue and permanent deformation. Additional benefits were observed regarding the fracture strength and the thermal cracking resistance (ΔTc). The viscoelastic effects of NR produced significant changes in the rheological properties of the base bitumen. Overall, the use of NR at a concentration of up to 7% by weight of bitumen proved to be a reasonable option for use in pavement applications, having more substantial benefits in tropical regions in agreement with its predominant effects on the bitumen modification at intermediate-to-high temperature conditions.

Citation

Wititanapanit, J., Carvajal-Munoz, J. S., & Airey, G. (2021). Performance-related and rheological characterisation of natural rubber modified bitumen. Construction and Building Materials, 268, Article 121058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121058

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 19, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 7, 2020
• Publication Date: Jan 25, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 11, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 8, 2021
• Journal: Construction and Building Materials
• Print ISSN: 0950-0618
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 268
• Article Number: 121058
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121058
• Keywords: General Materials Science; Civil and Structural Engineering; Building and Construction
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4949908
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950061820330622