Influence of asphaltene content on mechanical bitumen behavior: experimental investigation and micromechanical modeling

Eberhardsteiner, Lukas; Füssl, Josef; Hofko, Bernhard; Handle, Florian; Hospodka, Markus; Blab, Ronald; Grothe, Hinrich

doi:10.1617/s11527-014-0383-7

Cited by 86 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…These results have been successfully employed in further investigations regarding microstructure and microstructural changes at the ageing of bitumen [11]. The mantle surrounding the asphaltene agglomerate seems to be the critical part.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…It is thus also possible to interpret this effect as the formation of further aggregates of polar material in an increasingly apolar matrix. From a micromechanical point of view, the addition of around 5 % of asphaltenes has a tremendously high impact on the rheological and mechanical behavior of maltenes, indicating a huge impact on the microstructure by the addition of the asphaltenes [11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The bitumen microstructure: a fluorescent approach

et al. 2014

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Five bituminous samples were carefully studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy using 488 nm excitation radiation and observing 500-530 nm of emission. The images revealed the microstructure of bitumen. The influence of the admixture of mineral aggregates concerning the microstructure was tested. For the minerals, no significant influence was found. For understanding the origin of fluorescent signals, the samples were separated into asphaltenes and maltenes and analyzed with fluorescence spectroscopy. Although former works have assumed the origin of fluorescent emissions in bitumen to be found in the asphaltene fraction, the asphaltenes produce little to no emissions, but the maltenes exhibit strong fluorescence in the observed spectral region. For deeper insight, fractionation of the bitumina into the SARA fractions by chromatographic column separation was necessary. The fluorescence spectra of these fractions were analyzed and revealed the aromatics and resin phases to be the only components capable of sufficiently intense fluorescent emission. This is a strong argument for a complex internal microstructure consisting of a mantle of aromatics surrounding an inner core.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The bitumen microstructure: a fluorescent approach

et al. 2014

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“…Based on the results of this paper, the extension of the multi-scale model for asphalt mixes allowing for the mechanical description of the LVE bitumen behavior depending on its composition is presented [35] and [36]. Within these papers, a structural RVE concept based on SARA fractions is suggested, which is not only able to reproduce experimental results but also to describe significant microstructural effects related to aging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This clearly indicates that the artificial bitumen samples exhibit a valid LVE behavior. Further analysis, especially on multi-scale modeling on these data is presented in [35].…”

Section: Lve Behavior From Cr Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent studies [35,36], the multi-scale model has been extended to take into account the microstructure of bitumen and its influence on the mechanical behavior from binder up to the macroscale level. To obtain information on the mechanical behavior of the bitumen constituents, bitumen samples were separated into n-heptane solubles (maltene phase) and insolubles (asphaltenes) and artificial bitumen with pre-defined asphaltene concentrations from 0 to 30 wt% asphaltenes were produced from the constituents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of maltene and asphaltene fraction on mechanical behavior and microstructure of bitumen

et al. 2015

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As a widely accepted concept, bitumen consists of four fractions that can be distinguished by their polarity. Highly polar asphaltene micelles are dispersed in a viscous phase of saturates, aromatics and resins (maltene phase). Different concentrations of asphaltenes in the bitumen result in a range of mechanical response properties. In an interdisciplinary study the impact of the maltene phase and asphaltenes on the linear viscoelastic behavior and the microstructure of bitumen were analyzed by creep recovery testing in a DSR and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Therefore, bitumen was separated into the maltene and asphaltene fractions and artificial bitumen samples with different, pre-defined asphaltene concentrations were produced and investigated. It was found that the artificially produced, precipitated bitumen samples can be regarded as a representative, bitumen-like material in terms of mechanical behavior and microstructure. Asphaltenes play an important role in the typical viscoelastic behavior of bitumen being mainly responsible for stiffness and elasticity. Also, their concentration appears to be correlated to the occurrence and shape of the bee-like inclusions which can be typically observed by AFM.

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