내구연한이 도래한 아스팔트 혼합물은 사용자의 주행성 및 안전성 확보를 위해 주기적인 유지·보수를 실시한다. 과거에는 유지·보수 과정에서 발생된 폐아스팔트 혼합물을 각종 건설현장에서 단순 매립재로서 활용하였으나, 재활용 아스팔트 혼합물의 배합설계 기술이 확립된 이후에는 도로포장재료로서의 재활용되어왔다. 하지만 현재 시공된 재활용 아스팔트 혼합물 또한 내구연한이 다가옴에 따라 노화된 재활용 아스팔트 혼합물의 처리방안 수립이 필요한 시점이다. 본 연구에서는 한번 재활용된 아스팔트 혼합물이 기존의 재활용 배합설계법으로 반복적인 재활용이 가능한지 검증해보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 아스팔트 혼합물의 물성을 결정하는 가장 큰 요인 중 하나인 아스팔트의 물성이 노화 및 재생을 반복할때 어떻게 변하는지를 시험을 통해 분석하였다. 아스팔트 바인더의 노화를 모사하기 위해 공용성등급시험에 사용되는 단기노화 장비(Rolling Thin Film Oven, RTFO)와 장기노화 장비(Pressure Aging Vessel, PAV)을 활용하 였다. 노화된 아스팔트의 회생을 위한 재생첨가제 사용량은 국토부 시공지침의 배합설계법을 참고하였다. 실험결과, 노화된 바인더는 회생시 원바인더에 비해  sin는 감소하였으나, 회생된 바인더 간에는 유사한 결과값을 보였다. 반면 단기노화 시료는 회생이 반복 됨에 따라  sin이 감소한 경향을 보였으며, 장기노화시료는 회생이 반복되어도  sin가 유사한 것으로 확인되었다.

2022년 기준 국내 폐타이어 발생량은 약 37만톤으로 그 중 88.9%인 약 32만 9천톤이 재활용되는 것으로 조사되었다. 하지만 이 중 약 75%가 시멘트소성로용 등 열이용 분야에 사용되었다. 폐타이어는 대부분 고무와 플라스틱으로 이루어져 있기 때문에, 고온에서 분 해되면서 다양한 유해가스와 오염물질이 발생할 수 있고, 이러한 공해물질은 적극적으로 관리되지 않으면 대기오염, 수질 오염 등 다 양한 환경문제를 발생시킬 수 있다. 때문에 친환경적이고 지속적인 재활용에 대한 필요성이 대두되고 있다. 폐타이어 고무 분말을 아스팔트 혼합물의 골재 일부로 치환하여 재활용하는 접근 방식은 환경에 미치는 영향을 완화할 뿐만 아니라 천연 자원의 고갈 측면에서도 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 타이어분말을 아스팔트 혼합물에 적용하는 것은 환경 문제를 해결하고 자원 효율성을 높이는 두 가지 이점을 가지고 있다. 폐타이어 분말을 아스팔트 바인더와 아스팔트 혼합물에 적용할 경우 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위하여 DSR, BBR, MSCR 등의 시험 을 진행하였으며, 아스팔트 혼합물 내 폐타이어 분말의 분포를 조사하기 위해 SEM을 실시하였다. 또한 IDEAL-CT와 IDEAL-Rutting 시 험을 통해 아스팔트 혼합물의 성능을 평가하였다.

PURPOSES : This study aims to determine whether machine learning techniques based on the results of chemical analysis experiments can be rationally applied to evaluate the aging of various asphalt binders used throughout the country. METHODS : We conducted chemical experiments such as FT-IR, H-NMR, C- NMR, and GPC for the three-stage aging levels of eight types of asphalt binders used in the country and utilized two artificial neural network models to determine valid chemical experimentation and conditions for the use of neural modeling through predictions. RESULTS : The M-prop model, which combined the findings from each neural network model into a single artificial neural network model, demonstrated superior predictive performance compared with the M-base model, which assessed aging using two cluster layers. In addition, the minimum amount of data required to achieve 100% predictive accuracy for the target asphalt binders, regardless of the artificial neural network model, was 18, and the amount of training data decreased to less than 50%. CONCLUSIONS : The predictive accuracy of the aging of asphalt binders was significantly enhanced when GPC data was used, indicating that GPC should be prioritized in evaluating the aging of asphalt binders.

PURPOSES : In this study, we aimed to evaluate the transition temperature (Tt) of asphalt binders using molecular dynamics simulations, which can provide a more accurate assessment of the mechanical properties of a material at the molecular level and can be applied to material development and design. METHODS : Unlike conventional macro- or meso-level simulations, we utilized MD simulations to evaluate the Tg of asphalt binders based on material composition and aging degree as input variables. In this analysis, 11 temperatures ranging from 434 K to 233 K at 20 K intervals were utilized, and the bulk volume and density were calculated through MD simulations. RESULTS : The MD simulation successfully predicted the Tg of the asphalt binder, and the molecular-level properties and interactions determined in this study can be applied not only to material development but also to the determination of constitutive equations or contact models used in continuum mechanics or discrete element methods. The calculated Tg was slightly different depending on the aging of the asphalt binder; however, it was found to accurately reflect the transitional characteristics. CONCLUSIONS : This study demonstrated the potential of MD simulations as valuable tools for material development and design in the construction industry. The results indicate that the use of MD simulations can lead to more accurate and efficient material development and design by providing a more detailed understanding of material properties and interactions at the molecular level.

PURPOSES : This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the compaction performance and physical properties of recycled asphalt mixtures by utilizing the characteristics of hot-mix asphalt mixtures and foamed asphalt. METHODS : A wearing-course mixture was used for performance evaluations. Subsequently, dynamic shear rheometry (DSR), compaction performance, general physical properties, tensile strength ratio, and Hamburg wheel tracking were tested. RESULTS : As a result of performance comparisons, compaction, and general physical properties satisfied the quality standards. In the Hamburg wheel tracking test, the mixture with the antistripping agent improved performance by approximately 40% compared with the general mixture. As the foamed asphalt binder was produced at a relatively low temperature compared with the general hot-mix asphalt binder, the penetration, viscosity, and DSR test results of the aged foamed asphalt binder showed that the aging of the asphalt binder was suppressed, and the flexibility increased. Therefore, the resistance to fatigue cracks is expected to be enhanced. CONCLUSIONS : Even though the foamed warm-mix recycled asphalt mixture was produced at a temperature that was 20~30°C lower than the hot-mix asphalt mixture, its physical properties were similar to those of the hot-mix asphalt mixture; its use is expected to reduce the production of fuel and air pollutants.

PURPOSES : This study was conducted to evaluate the physical properties of micro-foamed asphalt binders. Surfactants and water-soluble anti-stripping agent were used to improve the performance of the foamed asphalt binder, and a domestically developed foamed asphalt generator was used for the micro-foamed asphalt binder. The results of this study can be used as technical data for the domestic application of foamed asphalt technology. METHODS : To evaluate the physical properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder, basic properties such as penetration, viscosity, softening point, and ductility were evaluated. Additionally, DSR and BBR tests were performed to confirm the change in the performance grade of the micro-formed asphalt binder when using surfactants, water-soluble anti-stripping agent, and water. RESULTS : Of the results of evaluating the physical properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder containing surfactant confirmed that the kinematic viscosity was reduced by 12.5% compared with the straight asphalt binder, which indirectly confirmed that compaction is possible even at low temperatures when producing the asphalt mixture. In addition, the PG grade of straight asphalt and micro-foamed asphalt binder was PG 64-22. This result indicates that surfactants, water-soluble anti-stripping agent, and water did not significantly affect the PG grade of the asphalt binder. CONCLUSIONS : The properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder were confirmed through the evaluation of the physical and rheological properties of the foamed asphalt binder to which the surfactant and water-soluble anti-stripping agent were applied, and we determined that it can be used as a technical material for the revitalization of Korean foamed asphalt technology.

PURPOSES : The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of applying properties of asphalt binder other than absolute viscosity (AV) to evaluate the rejuvenation level of the binder from reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in recycled asphalt mixtures (RAMs). METHODS : The G*/sin and critical temperature (CT) for determining high performance grade by DSR, and the large molecular size (LMS) using gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) were measured simultaneously with the AV of two virgin asphalt binders (58–22 for RAM and 64–22 for normal mix) and recovered binders from a RAP and four RAMs. Based on mix design, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% recycled RAMs were prepared, and the deformation strength (SD) of the RAMs were measured. The AV, LMS, G*/sin , and CT were measured from the recovered binders from each RAM of the SD-tested specimens. Regression analyses were performed between the LMS and AV, G*/ sin and AV, and CT and AV to determine the correlation of each property with the AV. The feasibility of evaluating the rejuvenation level of the RMA binder using the three properties (LMS, G*/sin , and CT) was evaluated. Regression analysis was performed between SD and AV, and the feasibility of using SD instead of AV ≤ 5,000 poise (p) was analyzed to evaluate the rejuvenation level of the RAM. RESULTS : The AV, LMS, G*/sin , and CT of RAM binders increased with the recycling ratio. Mixes with recycle ratios of 20% and 30% satisfied the AV ≤ 5,000 p criterion, unlike mixes with higher recycle ratios. The regression analysis results showed that the R2 values between the LMS and AV, G*/sin and AV, and CT and AV exceeded 0.96. Since these regressions showed extremely high R2 values, it can be inferred that the estimation of binder rejuvenation level using the LMS, G*/sin and CT, i.e., instead of the AV criterion, is applicable. Because SD exhibits high correlation with the binder stiffness, and the regression between SD and AV indicated R2 > 0.98, SD can be applied instead of the AV for binder rejuvenation level estimation. The main advantage of using the LMS and SD is to estimate the binder rejuvenation level without recovering the binder from the mix. CONCLUSIONS : For the binder rejuvenation level estimation of recycled mixes, it is concluded that the LMS by GPC and G*/sin and CT by DSR, and SD can be applied instead of the AV criterion. However, since this study was performed using limited materials, further studies involving many other materials may be performed to generalize the current conclusion.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the asphalt binder properties using FTIR analysis. METHODS : To investigate the chemical properties of asphalt binders, FTIR tests were performed. Recently, FTIR was used for quantification under various aging conditions. Three scans were averaged for each sample within the wavenumber range of 4000 to 400 cm-1, at a resolution of 4 cm-1 (default Simatech software settings). To determine the oxidation of the extracted asphalt binder and the remaining TCE solution in the extracted asphalt binder, the penetration test was adopted and compared. To track the changes in the chemical composition of the aged bitumens, the ATR spectrum of each sample was analyzed, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative analysis involved identifying characteristic absorption peaks for the functional group of interest, such as polymer components, carbon and sulfur oxidation products, and polar aromatics. RESULTS : The asphalt binder is easily oxidized in air during FTIR testing. To reduce the oxidization of the asphalt binder, the asphalt binder must avoid air contact to measure constant results. Sometimes, the extracted asphalt binder has a residual solvent (TCE), which affects the evaluation of the extracted asphalt binder rheology, such as absolute viscosity and penetration testing. To solve this problem, the research team adopted the FTIR test method. First, the TCE was scanned with FTIR to obtain the chemical characteristics of TCE. After that, the extracted asphalt binder was scanned and the FTIR spectra were compared with those of TCE. If there is a TCE in the extracted asphalt binder, a typical peak was found in the spectrum. Thus, it is possible to estimate the content of the TCE remaining in the extracted asphalt binder via the FTIR test method. CONCLUSIONS : It is possible to evaluate the aging of asphalt binder through FTIR analysis used for the analysis of the chemical structure of asphalt. In addition, during FTIR analysis, the sample is required to avoid air contact to obtain accurate results. FTIR analysis was conducted to confirm whether the solvent (TCE) remained in the extracted asphalt binder and it was confirmed that the penetration increased by a factor of two when the solvent remained. This suggests that it is difficult to control the quality of the asphalt mixture by controlling the amount of recycled additive, as well as the aging of the extracted asphalt binder.

PURPOSES : This study evaluates the mechanical properties of high-viscosity polymer-modified asphalt binders using PG and MSCR tests. METHODS : Using the Superpave asphalt binder performance grade (PG) and multi-stress creep recovery (MSCR) test methods, the linear (dynamic shear modulus, stiffness, and viscosity) and non-linear properties — i.e., non-recoverable compliance (Jnr) and recoverable shear strain % recovery — of 16 different types (SBS, SIS, PE, PP) of polymer-modified asphalt binders were assessed. RESULTS : Based on the viscosity testing results. Most PG 82 binders did not meet the criterion of 3 Pa ·s. This indicates that they need to increase the mixing and compaction temperatures to reduce the high viscosity. The MSCR % Jnr results demonstrated that PG 76, PG 82–22, and PG 82-28/34 binders were below 1.0, 0.5, and 0.2, respectively. In addition, the MSCR % recovery results showed that PG 76, PG82-22, and PG82-28/34 were above 35 %, 55 %, and 80 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS : It was found that the % Jnr decreased with an increase in the high-temperature PG of the asphalt binder, whereas the % recovery increased as the low-temperature PG of the binder increased.

PURPOSES : The use of hydrated lime or other liquid anti-stripping agents (ASA) is the most common method of improving the moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixes. ASAs are also known to have an anti-aging effect, according to several researchers. Therefore, the use of ASAs is expected to enhance the stability of asphalt pavements. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-aging effect of ASAs that are found in the domestic market. METHODS : In this study, an asphalt binder and a mixture mixed with typical domestic solid and liquid ASAs were prepared and aged to evaluate the physicochemical changes. A liquid additive developed by a Korean oil refinery was used as the liquid ASA, and hydrated lime was utilized as the solid ASA. The aging process of the asphalt was determined in the laboratroy based on previous studies to simulate the aging process inh te field. RESULTS : The result of the laboratory experiment indicates that both the solid and liquid ASAs have an anti-aging effect. Moreover, the liquid additive performed relatively better than the hydrated lime. CONCLUSIONS : If ASAs have an anti-aging effect in addition to the anti-stripping function, it is expected to improve the stability of the asphalt pavement significantly. However, few studies have been carried out on the anti-aging effect of ASAs found in the domestic market. In this study, we conducted a fundamental study on the anti-aging effect to help in the selection and use of ASAs in the domestic asphalt-paving industry.