Evaluation of the ceramic fiber modified asphalt binder

Improving the properties of asphalt binders is an effective method to enhance pavement strength. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rheological properties of ceramic fiber modified asphalt binder. To this end, modified asphalt binders with 1, 3, and 5 wt% of ceramic fibers were prepared and binder tests including penetration, softening point and ductility, rotational viscometer, dynamic shear rheometer and bending beam rheometer tests were performed on them. The results of the experiments indicated that although the use of ceramic fibers somewhat reduces the resistance of asphalt binder at low temperatures, not only retains the binder resistance against cracking but also improves its high-temperature performance. These results were confirmed by the wheel track and indirect tensile fatigue tests which were conducted to verify the binder tests. Thus, these fibers can be considered as suitable additives to improve the performance of binder and asphalt mixtures and their optimum content will be 3%. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.