Effect of Ultraviolet Aging on Asphalt Rheological Properties

This paper simulated the ultraviolet aging process of asphalt and used dynamic mechanic analysis (DMA) method to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet aging on the asphalt rheological properties. After having experienced ultravio- let aging, the low temperature performance of asphalt binder decreased significantly, with its complex modulus increased and phase angle decreased along with changing rheological properties as compared to the performance of original asphalt binder. The ultraviolet aging process would make asphalt binder more sensitive to brittle and fatigue failure. On the basis of the time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP), the viscoelastic transition frequency (ωT) is proposed to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet aging. It is found that with the increase in ultraviolet aging time, the ωT moves to the lower frequency range gradually. Since the viscoelastic transition frequency is sensitive to the effect of aging, it can be used as an indicator of ultraviolet aging.