Optimizing Rural Pavements with SBS-Modified Asphalt Binders and Petroleum Resin

This study addresses the imperative for enhancing asphalt mixtures tailored for rural pavements, focusing on optimizing RAP mixtures with styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS)-modified asphalt binders incorporating petroleum resin and oil. Through systematic investigation, the study examines the impact of varying RAP content (25% and 50%) and two SBS-modified asphalt binder types (Type 1 and Type 2) on mechanical properties and sustainability. Laboratory tests reveal that the mix of 25% RAP + 75% Type 1 exhibits exceptional flexibility, evidenced by a high ductility value of 880 mm at 25 °C, enhancing pavement resilience. Conversely, the 50% RAP + 50% Type 2 mixture displays vulnerability to fatigue cracking, while 25% RAP + 75% Type 1 demonstrates superior resistance, with a fatigue vulnerability value of 1524 kPa. The Hamburg Wheel Tracking test highlights the influence of RAP content on rut depth, with the mix of 50% RAP + 50% Type 1 achieving the lowest rutting at 3.9 mm. Overlay test results show the mix of 25% RAP + 75% Type 2’s resilience, with the lowest load reduction at 64.5%, while the mix of 50% RAP + 50% Type 1 exhibits substantial load reduction at 82.1%. Field tests unveil differences in pavement bearing capacities, with the mix of 25% RAP + 75% Type 2 demonstrating a remarkable elastic modulus of 58.5 MPa, indicating heightened bearing capacity. The investigation underscores the significant role of SBS-modified asphalt binders with incorporated petroleum resin and oil in enhancing fatigue resistance for sustainable rural pavements.

This creative work has been published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) license which allows copying, and redistribution as well as adaptation of the original work provided appropriate credit is given to the original author and the conditions of the license are met.