Analysis of the Effects of Rubber Dosage and Digestion Time on the Mechanical Properties of Low Dosage Crumb-Rubber-Modified Asphalt Concrete Mixtures

Greg White; Andrew Kidd

doi:10.3390/ma18071419

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Analysis of the Effects of Rubber Dosage and Digestion Time on the Mechanical Properties of Low Dosage Crumb-Rubber-Modified Asphalt Concrete Mixtures

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Analysis of the Effects of Rubber Dosage and Digestion Time on the Mechanical Properties of Low Dosage Crumb-Rubber-Modified Asphalt Concrete Mixtures

Greg White and Andrew Kidd

Materials, Vol.18(7), pp.1-20

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071419

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Abstract

crumb rubber

modification

binder

asphalt

mechanical properties

Crumb rubber modification of bituminous binders for asphalt concrete mixture production has been shown to provide significant environmental benefits, in terms of reduced embodied carbon, as well as improvement in the mechanical performance properties of asphalt mixtures. Furthermore, even at low dosages of crumb rubber, significant anti-ageing benefits have been reported, in terms of oxidation and ultra-violet light exposure. However, the effect of low dosage crumb rubber modification on the mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures must be understood. This research compared otherwise nominally identical dense-graded asphalt mixtures produced with crumb rubber modified binder at 5%, 10%, and 15% (by weight of the bitumen) and, using short digestion (reflecting field blending) and long digestion (reflecting terminal blending), to two control asphalt mixtures across a range of mechanical properties indicative of stiffness, rutting resistance, fatigue cracking resistance, cold fracture resistance, and moisture damage resistance. It was concluded that 10% was the optimum crumb rubber content and that crumb rubber modification generally improved the mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures, particularly the deformation resistance and the fatigue cracking resistance, which were both improved significantly. However, the effect of crumb rubber content and digestion times was variable. Consequently, the decision to field blend (short duration) or terminal blend (long duration) should be based on logistics, and not on asphalt mechanical properties and the associated mixture performance.

Details

Title: Analysis of the Effects of Rubber Dosage and Digestion Time on the Mechanical Properties of Low Dosage Crumb-Rubber-Modified Asphalt Concrete Mixtures
Authors: Greg White (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Andrew Kidd - Brisbane City Council
Publication details: Materials, Vol.18(7), pp.1-20
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.3390/ma18071419
ISSN: 1996-1944
Copyright note: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Data Availability: The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991113841002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Chemistry, Physical; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary; Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering; Physics, Applied; Physics, Condensed Matter