Laboratory and Full-Scale Testbed Study in the Feasibility of Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Asphalt Pavement Having Epoxy Resin and Crumb Rubber Powder

Abstract

Conventional asphalt concrete pavements have deteriorated rapidly due to the current increased traffic and extreme climate impacts. In addition to the upgrading in the construction quality, there is an urgent need to expand the utilization of modified asphalt binders to improve road capacity and traffic safety. The proposed research aims to combine epoxy resin (ER) and crumb rubber powder (CRP) contents into conventional Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified asphalt binder to not only reduce the consumption of normal asphalt binder but also promote the usage of recycled waste material in practice. To cope with this research objective, the ER and CRP were designed at 3% and 5% by weight of asphalt binder, respectively. Various laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the performance of modified mixtures (ERCRP), including the Frequency Sweep Test, Multiple Stressed Creep and Recovery, Dynamic Modulus, Semi-Circular Bending (SCB), and Cantabro Durability Tests. Additionally, an assessment of the modified asphalt concrete pavement via field testbed was conducted through Falling Weight Deflectometer and Ground Penetrating Radar. Overall, by adding the ER and CRP, the strain value of the control reference mix can be reduced up to 31.8% and 28.3% at MSCR 0.1 and 3.1 kPa, respectively. Additionally, the dynamic modulus of the ERCRP-modified samples was approximately 32,267 and 189 MPa, while the value of the reference mixture was 28,730 and 105 MPa at the highest and lowest frequency, respectively, indicating an enhancement under repeated loads. Regarding the SCB test results at 0 °C, the peak stress of the ERCRP-modified mixture was 4.75 MPa, while the value of the reference specimens was only 4.2 MPa, noticing the improved stress-bearing capacity. Based on a full-scale testbed, the FLWD elastic modulus of reinforced pavement shows a novel improvement (6.75%) compared with the control pavement, suggesting a potential application of ERCRP-modified asphalt binder for sustainable development purposes.

Feasibility of Sustainable Asphalt Concrete Materials Utilizing Waste Plastic Aggregate, Epoxy Resin, and Magnesium-Based Additive

“…The asphalt binder and epoxy resins were obtained from the Korean SK petroleum company, known for their high-quality products. The magnesium additive was sourced from a reliable Korea Import Company in Seoul, South Korea [ 18 , 19 ]. The aggregate used in this study was obtained from a local asphalt plant, ensuring proximity and adherence to regional specifications.…”

“…Notably, the asphalt mixtures used in this study underwent careful manufacturing conditions. The WPA did not undergo heating, while the aggregate was exposed to a temperature of 165 °C for 4 h. The asphalt itself was heated to 160 °C for 2 h and short-term aging was conducted at temperatures ranging from 155 to 160 °C for 1 h. These controlled conditions were essential to ensure proper processing and the attainment of desired asphalt mixture characteristics, showcasing the potential of the resulting HMA with WPA, epoxy resins, and magnesium as a sustainable and high-performance solution for asphalt pavements [ 18 ].…”

“…In addition to WPA, the use of additives or modifiers in asphalt mixtures has gained considerable attention for enhancing material properties and performance. Epoxy resin, known for its adhesive properties and strength, has been widely investigated as a reinforcing agent in asphalt concrete [ 18 ]. The combination of WPA and epoxy resin has the potential to further enhance the cohesion between plastic particles and the asphalt binder, leading to improved load-bearing capacity and resistance to deformation [ 19 ].…”

“…By incorporating epoxy resin into the HMA, the mixture exhibits enhanced adhesion and cohesion properties, leading to increased durability and reduced susceptibility to cracking and rutting [ 22 ]. The use of epoxy resin in HMA represents a promising approach to developing sustainable and high-performance asphalt pavements with improved mechanical properties and extended service life [ 18 ].…”

Durability of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Mixture with Wasted Tire Powder and Epoxy Resin under Tropical Climate Curing Conditions

“…One promising approach is the use of polymer-modified asphalt binders [10,24,25], which can enhance the mechanical properties of the mixture, such as stiffness, strength, and resistance to deformation [26,27]. The addition of crumb rubber powder from waste car tires and epoxy resin has also been investigated to further improve the properties of the mixture [25,28,29].…”