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Modelling of rheological and ageing properties of bitumen based on its chemical structure

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Abstract

The aim of this research was the construction of a model to describe the rheological and the ageing behaviour of bitumen by its chemical properties. Therefore, linear combinations were determined considering the contents and the average molecular weights M n of the four substantial fractions of bitumen. These substantial fractions are the SARA fractions consisting of the saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes. The determined linear combinations allow the description and prediction of different conventional and rheological parameters like the softening point T R&B and the needle penetration PEN as well as the complex shear modulus |G*| and the phase angle δ at different temperatures. Furthermore, the ageing behaviour was captured by ageing indices calculated by the ratio between the mentioned parameters in the long term aged state and the unaged state of the binder. These ageing indices can also be estimated by the SARA fractions, namely the SARA fractions of the unaged state of the bitumen. Due to these results the contents and molecular weights of the SARA fractions permit a description and prediction of the physical, rheological and ageing related properties of the bitumen. Thereby, the results of this research indicate that the influence of the SARA fractions on the behaviour of bitumen decreases with decreasing temperature.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (Federal Highway Research Institute), especially Dr Volker Hirsch, for the support and the expert advice. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank the employees of the ASPHALTA Prüf- und Forschungslaboratorium GmbH Berlin who carried out the conventional and rheological test methods as well as the ageing simulations and the employees of the field Chemistry of Mesoscopic Systems of the University of Kassel who carried out the asphaltene separation, the column chromatography and the SEC. This report is based on parts of the research project carried out at the request of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, represented by the Federal Highway Research Institute, under research project No. 7.0249/2011/BRB. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

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  1. Building Materials and Construction Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25 (building 13b), 13355, Berlin, Germany

    S. Weigel & D. Stephan

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  1. S. Weigel
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  2. D. Stephan
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Correspondence to S. Weigel.

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Weigel, S., Stephan, D. Modelling of rheological and ageing properties of bitumen based on its chemical structure. Mater Struct 50, 83 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-016-0957-7

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