Assessing the impact of VG30 grade bitumen with and without additive (EVA) on short term aging

Abstract

India is distinctive among developing countries for its fast-growing service sector and road transport is vital to India's economy, social integration and security needs of the country. Hence roads infrastructure from long run point of view with respect to quality in terms of load carrying capacity, performance, durability and economy is needed. But the aging of bituminous binders is one of the key factors determining the lifetime of an asphalt pavement. Aging in bitumen normally resulted from the weathering of the binder due to oxidation. Bitumen hardening occurs progressively during asphalt production, transportation, paving operation and thereafter during its service life. Gradual loss of visco-elastic properties of bitumen is due to hardening of asphalt material, consequently an increasing traffic loading will hasten performance failure of the pavement, frequency of traffic and changing environment. In the present study Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), a plastomer were used in various percentages (2 to 4%) as modifiers in VG30 grade bitumen for determine short term aging. The changing effects on physical properties in terms of the bituminous binders with and without EVA were measured before aging and after aging were measured. The results show that after ageing softening point increases, penetration decreases and elastic recovery increases with increasing percentage of EVA. The losses of volatile fractions recorded are within permissible limits of codal provision. Utilization of such modifier can be beneficial to road projects.