A Suggested Methodology for the Analysis of Asphalt Age-Hardening

This paper discusses a suggested approach for utilization of rheological aging curves for prediction of inservice age-hardening of asphalt which can affect pavement durability. The standard “one point” evaluation of laboratory aging of asphalts is quite limited with regard to a meaningful, rational, and comprehensive evaluation of asphalt aging with respect to pavement durability. On the other hand, the temperature-time domain should be characterized and investigated by aging curves over a wide range of the two-parameter coordinates. An interpretation of asphalt-aging curves in the temperature-time domain is presented that can lead to a reliable calibration of laboratory aging on the basis of actual field aging. The suggested approach and methodology are believed to provide the proper correlation (for a certain asphalt) between laboratory and pavement asphalt aging that can be obtained in almost any one of the thin-film or microfilm oven tests.