Evaluation of cracking resistance of asphalt concrete under long-term aging condition

Abstract

Cracking is one of the primary distresses in asphalt pavements under traffic loading and climate. Asphalt cracking can be caused by aging asphalt binders in production, transportation, construction, and exploitation. Therefore, it is very necessary to study the influence of aging on cracking resistance for asphalt concrete. This paper initially evaluated the cracking resistance of asphalt concrete with a nominal maximum aggregate size of 12.5mm (AC 12.5) under long-term aging conditions. Based on the laboratory experiments, the study evaluated the required technical parameters of 60/70 binder, PMBIII binder, and AC 12.5 considering long-term aging conditions. Test results indicated that the aging of asphalt binder can significantly affect the cracking resistance of asphalt concrete.