Flexural-Creep Stiffness of Asphalt Binders Measured by Simple Developed Apparatus

Abstract

As the climate temperature decreases, the flexible pavement will be subjected to high tensile stresses which exceeding to the movement resistance of asphalt binder leading to low temperature cracking. SHRP identified a Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) for measuring the value of flexural-creep stiffness of asphalt binder at low temperatures which consider this value a good indicator for resistance of low-temperature cracking. This study developed a method for measuring the flexural-creep stiffness of asphalt binder by modification of an apparatus instead of Bending Beam Rheometer due to its expensive cost and unavailable in most research laboratories. A (40-50) penetration grade of asphalt binder used in this study at different test temperatures (-5, 0, 5)°C. The experimental results indicate to the modified apparatus and developed test is suitable for testing an asphalt binder at different temperature and loading time.