Effect of bitumen emulsion on mechanical performance of cold asphalt mixtures

Abstract

Implementation of innovative material and evaluation concepts in pavement construction industry is important to reduce the negative environmental impacts. The objective of this paper is to review the recent scientific developments in characterising the effect of bitumen emulsion properties on the performance of cold asphalt mixtures. The experimental approach was based on the indirect tensile testing of the standardised bitumen emulsion mortar specimens. The major finding is that there is a continuous change in mechanical properties and the mode of fracture on the long-term basis. However, the ratios of the considered fracture performance-related parameters indicated that the change in the mode of fracture from ductile to brittle is not that direct, and the reason for this could be in the relation between the development of the adhesion and the residual binder viscosity. As a step towards fundamental understanding of the contribution of adhesion, further research should be focused on the interaction between cement hydration, binder droplets, and emulsifier.nema