Desulfurized rubber (DR) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were used to modify bitumen. The basic physical properties, rheological properties, chemical composition, thermogravimetric behavior, and morphological characteristics were determined and evaluated to analyze the performance and mechanism of DR and LDPE compound-modified asphalt. A series of experiments (e.g., conventional test methods, rotational viscosity, storage stability, and dynamic shear rheometer tests), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were conducted. The results revealed that DR-modified asphalt (DRMA) had increases in the penetration, ductility, softening point, and penetration index by 30.2, 22.3, 3.5, and 11.1%, respectively, over the crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRMA). The compatibility between the asphalt and modifier is better for DRMA than for CRMA. These findings indicate that DRMA has a better pavement performance than CRMA. Furthermore, compared with DR-modified bitumen, LDPE inclusions increased the value of G*/sin δ by at least 75.9% and improved the thermal properties. Morphological observations confirmed that the DR/LDPE additives were better dispersed than crumb rubber and formed a more homogeneous phase separation in the asphalt.
The grey correlation theory and multiple regression method are used to reveal macro performance degradation rules of road concrete under loading and freeze-thaw and drying-wetting cycles; then the correlation between mesoscopic pore structure and residual strength and antifreezing index of concrete is analyzed. Under the freeze-thaw and drying-wetting cycles with 50% loading level, the pore structure parameters that influence concrete strength show the following sequence: fractal dimension > most probable pore size > porosity > less harmful pore. The correlation between strength and pore parameters can be represented with multiple nonlinear equations. A negative correlation is shown between strength and fractal dimension and most probable pore size. Conversely, a positive correlation is shown between strength, porosity, and less harmful pore. Under the freeze-thaw and drying-wetting cycles with 80% loading level, the pore structure parameters that influence concrete strength show another sequence: fractal dimension > porosity > less harmful pore > most probable pore size. The correlation between antifreezing index and pore parameters should be described with multiple linear equations. The relative dynamic elastic modulus shows a positive correlation to most probable pore size, pore surface area, and porosity but a negative correlation to less harmful pore and pore spacing coefficient.
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