Rubberised bitumen manufacturing assisted by rheological measurements
This paper investigates the effect of processing temperature and time on the rheological proper- ties of recycled tyre rubber-modified bitumens (RTR-MBs) produced using two different base binders and an ambient ground crumb rubber modifier (CRM). The production of the RTR- MBs was accomplished by means of a standard Brookfield rotational viscometer together with a modified impeller, dual helical impeller, to allow mixing as well as real-time viscosity measurements of the produced RTR-MBs. The rheological properties of the final RTR-MBs were determined by means of standard dynamic mechanical analysis oscillatory and multiple stress creep recovery testing using a dynamic shear rheometer. The …
On the Assessment and Optimisation of the Processing Conditions of Tyre-Rubber Modified Bitumen
The current study aims at understanding the effect of the variables associated with manufacturing rubberised bitumens in order to develop rubberised bitumen with superior mechanical properties and identify optimised processing conditions for its production. The experimental work covered extensive laboratory testing of several rubberised bitumen blends. The rubberised bitumen was manufactured using four paving grade bitumens (180/240, 160/220, 70/100, 80/100), three tyre rubber types (mechanical ground, waterjet powder, ambient ground powder), and various processing conditions (shear levels, temperatures, processing times). Characterisation of the manufactured blends included rotational visc…
New simplified approach for obtaining a reliable plateau value in fatigue analysis of bituminous materials
The Plateau Value (PV) based on the Ratio of Dissipated Energy Change (RDEC) approach has been proven to provide a unique relationship with the fatigue life, N-f, independent of loading mode, temperature and frequency. In this paper, a new simplified approach is proposed to compute the unique energy parameter PV. The results of this study show that applying the proposed method allows a unique fatigue power law to be produced and eliminates the ambiguity and variability in calculating PV. However, the study also shows that the PV-N-f fatigue curves for bituminous materials are dependent on material type which is contradictory to other studies dealing with PV. The study also highlights the im…
An investigation of the mechanical properties of rubber modified asphalt mixtures using a modified dry process
Incorporating recycling tyres into asphalt mixtures contributes to solving a serious environmental problem as well as the potential of improving the mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures. The recycled tyre rubber is added by two technologies known as the dry process (when rubber particles are treated as an aggregate modifier) and the wet process (when rubber particles are treated as a binder modifier). Although, the dry process is easier and requires minimal or no modification in the asphalt plant, the inconsistency in field performance makes the dry process not widely used. The main reason for this is believed to be the lack of interaction between the rubber particles and binder. In o…
An investigation on using pre-treated tyre rubber as a replacement of synthetic polymers for bitumen modification
Rubberized bitumen obtained through a swelling process, has widely proven to be a successful technology for asphalt pavement applications and a solution to reduce the dismantling of tyre rubber on landfills. However, this technology presents two main operative issues which needs the adoption of costly special equipment. Firstly, significant high value of High Temperature Viscosity (HTV) which imposes mixing and compaction difficulties and leads to increased energy consumption and emissions. Furthermore, during the hot storage period, phase separation between rubber particles and the base bitumen could occur. Developing Recycled Tyre Rubber Modified Bitumen (RTR-MBs) with improved storage st…
Quality-control procedure for dry-process rubberised asphalt mastics
Crumb Rubber (CR) can be incorporated into asphalt mixes via the dry process by directly adding CR into the mixer together with other asphalt mixture’s components, or with the wet process where the CR is used as a bitumen modifier. While the wet process allows an accurate monitoring of the interaction between CR and bitumen, the lack of control represents a main issue in the dry process. In fact, in the latter the CR particles keep swelling during hauling and possibly also after paving operations, often causing workability issues and premature failures. This study wants to provide a methodology that could help quality control procedures of bitumen/filler/rubber systems during mixing, haulin…
Evaluation of the fracture performance of different rubberised bitumens based on the essential work of fracture
The fracture performance of rubberised bitumen in addition to one pre-treated with a Warm Mix Additive (Sasobit®) was investigated using different test methods measuring different damage mechanisms. Two Recycled Tyre Rubber (RTR) modifiers together with two base binders were blended in the laboratory to produce various combinations of Recycled Tyre Rubber Modified Bitumens (RTR-MBs). The first RTR is a standard recycled polymer derived from discarded truck and passenger car tyres by ambient grinding. The second RTR consists of 100% recycled truck tyres derived by cryogenic grinding and pre-treated with special oil and WMA to allow further decrease of asphalt mixture production temperatures.…
Rutting analysis of different rubberised stone mastic asphalt mixtures: from binders to mixtures
Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) has been broadly used on heavily trafficked roads and motorways in the UK due to its known stability and durability. In this study, several sets of SMA mixtures were produced using different rubberised bitumens, including a Fischer–Tropsch wax pre-treated rubberised bitumen. Properties associated with rutting were evaluated using both linear and nonlinear viscoelastic analyses, using different test methods such as the Strategic Highway Research Programme (SHRP), Shenoy rutting parameter, zero shear viscosity (ZSV) and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) tests. The rutting resistance of the resulting SMA mixtures was assessed using the Repeated Load Axial Test (R…
Fatigue and Healing Properties of Low Environmental Impact Rubberized Bitumen for Asphalt Pavement
The addition of recycled tyre rubber as a modifier to enhance the mechanical properties of bitumen has proven to provide asphalt mixtures with better mechanical performance. However the rubberised bitumen presents the limitation of requiring higher manufacturing and compaction temperatures. This could be solved by subjecting the tyre rubber to sort of pre-treatments such as: Adding warm-mix additives and/or using partial devulcanisation. These solutions have the potential of lowering the overall environmental impact of the asphalt pavement, however it is still not clear whether these can be detrimental for the rubberized asphalt binder mechanical properties. This paper investigates the effe…
The effects of laboratory ageing on rheological and fracture characteristics of different rubberised bitumens
Ageing of bituminous materials can result in loss of the durability of a flexible pavement. Using rubberised bitumens can enhance pavement performance while at the same time it solves a serious waste disposal problem. Combining Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) additives with rubberised bitumens reduces the difficulties associated with the production of asphalt mixtures using this modified binder. This work was conducted to study the effect of ageing using fundamental parameters based on performance, i.e., CTOD and Glover-Rowe parameters have been related to pavement cracking. Different unmodified bitumens and rubberised bitumens were short-term aged using the Thin Film Oven Test (TFOT) and long- term…
Binder and Mixture Fatigue Performance of Plant-Produced Road Surface Course Asphalt Mixtures with High Contents of Reclaimed Asphalt
The aged properties of Reclaimed Asphalt (RA) binders are one of the main factors working against their utilisation in high-RA content (>
Optimisation of liquid rubber modified bitumen for road pavements and roofing applications
Abstract Polymer Modified Bitumens (PMBs) are largely used for pavement and roofing membranes applications with Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Block copolymer (SBS) playing a major role in both markets despite its constantly increasing price due to the rising demand for quality bitumen modifiers. On the other hand, there is an increasing trend of recycling end of life tyres generating Recycled Tyre Rubber (RTR) at affordable price. This investigation aims at engineering a modified bitumen with a combination of Liquid Rubber (LR), a homogeneous blend of 50–70% RTR pre-processed in combination with heavy oils, and a wax denominated Ethylene Bis Stearamide (EBS). In the first phase, the effect of L…
Rubberised stone mastic asphalt mixtures: a performance-related evaluation
The binder content of rubberised asphalt mixtures is usually increased compared to that used in conventional asphalt. This increase is deemed important to compensate for the reduction in the actual bitumen due to the existence of rubber particles. This study presents the results of performance evaluation conducted on different rubberised Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixtures produced using different types and contents of rubberised bitumen. The energy ratio (ER) computed from Superpave Indirect Tensile (IDT) tests was used to evaluate the cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures while the rutting behaviour was evaluated using the Repeated Load Axial Test (RLAT). The indirect tensile stiffness …