This study evaluates the influence of polymer-modification on the induction heating capability of asphalt mastic in a microwave field, and investigates how effectively this approach can be utilized for ice melting and self-healing purposes. To this end, different asphalt mastic mixtures with different polymer-modification and mixing procedures were tested under microwave field exposure for induction heating capability, ice-melting ability, and self-healing capacity. The mixtures were made through warm-mix and hot-mix procedures with four bituminous binders, including virgin (unmodified) asphalt and the same binder modified with three types of polymers. The results showed the effectiveness of microwave induction heating of asphalt mastic for both crack-healing and deicing purposes. The binder type was found to influence the ice melting and crack healing rates, such that using a warm-mix asphalt binder resulted in a more efficient heat generation and conduction than using a virgin asphalt binder. While polymer-modification undermined induction-heating, ice-melting, and self-healing performances, SBS-modified asphalt binders exhibited better performance than the other polymer-modified binders.

Recently, significant advancements in the modeling of asphalt concrete have been made in micromechanics to describe the behavior and performance of asphalt pavements using the properties of their component materials. On the other hand, this approach has great potential benefits in the field of asphalt technology for reducing or eliminating costly tests to characterize asphaltic mixtures. In this study, two-dimensional Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) was employed to investigate the deformation characteristics of Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA). Instead of the randomly generated initial models Image processing techniques were employed to make it possible to compare the actual and virtual test results. For this purpose, a series of Unconfined Dynamic Creep tests were also carried out in the laboratory according to British Standards. It has been concluded that the developed 2D-model can well predict the deformation characteristics of SMA mixes, however the results of simulations under-predict the accumulated permanent strain obtained through laboratory tests.

Utilizing the self-healing properties of asphalt materials is a way to improve the service life of asphalt pavements. Enhanced self-healing capabilities can be achieved through mixture modification. Using waste or by-product materials to modify asphalt mixtures can provide further environmental benefits. However, with a given mixture modification method, the resulting materials should be adequately vetted to ensure that enhanced self-healing capability is not attained at the expense of the mixture’s overall performance. This research aims to investigate the feasibility of using zinc slag filler to enhance the self-healing properties of warm mix asphalt (WMA) and evaluates the rutting susceptibility and moisture-resistance of the slag-modified mixtures. To this end, zinc slag filler was used to replace a portion of the mineral filler at different replacement rates in WMA mixtures. Self-healing capabilities of the resulting mixtures were studied under microwave induction heating. The influence of zinc slag modification on asphalt mixture’s characteristics and conventional performance indicators were evaluated by the Texas boiling test, the three-point bending test, and the Kim test (a deformation test). Also, the adhesion between bitumen and aggregate was evaluated using the broken sample from the three-point bending test and digital image analysis. The results of self-healing tests demonstrated that the heat generation capability of the specimens increased with filler replacement rate, such that the specimens with 100% of the mineral filler replaced with slag showed the highest heating performance. Zinc slag filler showed the potential to improve the moisture resistance of WMA by enhancing aggregate–bitumen adhesion and thus reducing stripping. The slag-modified WMA samples exhibited better tensile strength ratio (TSR) and deformation resistance than their non-modified equivalents.

The use of waste materials has been increasingly conceived as a sustainable alternative to conventional materials in the road construction industry, as concerns have arisen from the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources in recent years. Re-refined acidic sludge (RAS) obtained from a waste material—acidic sludge—is an alternative source for bitumen. This study’s primary purpose is to evaluate the resistance of warm mix asphalt (WMA) mixtures containing RAS and a polymeric additive against moisture damage and rutting. The modified bitumen studied in this research is a mixture of virgin bitumen 60/70, RAS (10, 20, and 30%), and amorphous poly alpha olefin (APAO) polymer. To this end, Marshall test, moisture susceptibility tests (i.e., tensile strength ratio (TSR), residual Marshall, and Texas boiling water), resilient modulus, and rutting assessment tests (i.e., dynamic creep, Marshall quotient, and Kim) were carried out. The results showed superior values for modified mixtures compared to the control mix considering the Marshall test. Moreover, the probability of a reduction in mixes’ moisture damage was proved by moisture sensitivity tests. The results showed that modified mixtures could improve asphalt mixtures’ permanent deformation resistance and its resilience modulus. Asphalt mixtures containing 20% RAS (substitute for bitumen) showed a better performance in all the experiments among the samples tested.