Low-Temperature Crack Resistance of High-Content Rubber-Powder-Modified Asphalt Mixture under Freeze-Thaw Cycles

In order to study the modification mechanisms of a warm-mixing agent and high dosage on rubber-powder-modified asphalt, as well as the influence of salt freeze-thaw cycling on the mechanism of warm-mixed high-dosage-rubber-powder-modified asphalt, macro- and micro-experimental methods were used to analyze the low-temperature crack resistance performance of six types of rubber-powder-modified asphalt mixtures under salt freeze-thaw cycling. By using digital image processing (DIC) technology to record and analyze the loading processes of specimens in semicircular three-point bending (SCB) tests, combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) tests, the low-temperature crack resistance of the asphalt mixtures was explored, and it was inferred that the micro-mechanical performance indicators of the asphalt were correlated with the low-temperature crack resistance performance indicators of the asphalt mixtures. The results indicate that the salt solution caused greater damage to the asphalt than water. The addition of more rubber powder improved the low-temperature cracking resistance of the asphalt mixtures. There was a significant correlation between the micro-mechanical properties of the asphalt and the low-temperature crack resistance of the asphalt mixtures, and a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMT) showed a stronger correlation with the strain derivative (E'(t)) than the adhesion force index. The SDYK-type warm-mixing agent had a better effect on the low-temperature cracking resistance of the asphalt mixtures than the EM-type warm-mixing agent.