Effect of recycled engine oil bottoms on the ductile failure properties of straight and polymer-modified asphalt cements

This paper presents a study on the effects of recycled engine oil bottoms (REOB) on ductile failure properties of asphalt cements. Binders were tested according to regular AASHTO M320 as well as double-edge-notched tension (DENT) test protocols. The DENT test determines essential work of failure (we, a measure of strength and toughness) and critical crack tip opening displacement (CTOD, a measure of strain tolerance). REOB was found to increase the AASHTO M320 grade span but worsen we and/or CTOD. Straight and polymer-modified binders were studied, with and without REOB and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) binder, and significant decreases in we and CTOD were found, pointing to reduced cracking performance. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.