This study proposed a rapid method to predict rheological characteristics of asphalt binders due to oxidative aging based on pressure aging vessel (PAV) as the accelerating aging tool. Six types of asphalt binders were aged at various temperatures for different durations with two aging methods, which were oven aging under standard atmosphere, and PAV aging under a pressure of 2.1MPa. The crossover modulus was determined to characterize the rheological property changes with respect to aging. The oxidation aging kinetics model in terms of crossover modulus under oven aging method was developed, the model parameters showed universal correlations of each other. The aging kinetics model parameters using PAV aging method also obtained. Relationship between the aging kinetics model parameter in oven and PAV aging was established. The activation energy as one of the aging kinetics model parameters in oven aging calculated from PAV data using the relationship, along with the universal correlations of aging kinetics model parameter in oven aging, the crossover modulus predicted rapidly and accurately. Such a rapid method is capable of predicting the aging behavior and rheological properties of asphalt binder subjected to oxidation, and is significantly save a great deal of time and effort in the laboratory.

This study aimed to establish the chemical-rheological property relationships of asphalt binders subjected to oxidative aging. Five asphalt binders were aged in the oven at several different temperatures for various durations. The chemical characteristic in terms of carbonyl index and rheological characteristic in terms of complex shear modulus and phase angle. The aged asphalt binders were measured using the Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) techniques, respectively. During oxidative aging process, the carbonyl index was predicted using the Glover’s aging kinetic model. Crossover frequency and rheological index generated from the aging mastercurves, correlates well with the carbonyl index of asphalt binders, and the correlations are independent of aging temperature and time. Christensen-Anderson model is used in combination with crossover frequency-carbonyl index and rheological index-carbonyl index relationships to predict complex shear modulus and phase angle master curves of the binder with respect to aging.