An Accelerated Method for Determining Asphalt Oxidation Kinetics Parameters for Use in Pavement Oxidation and Performance Modeling

A new and innovative strategy has been developed for using the pressure aging vessel (PAV) at 90 degrees C and 100 degrees C and elevated pressure (2.1 MPa) for predicting asphalt oxidative embrittlement and its consequent loss of durability over years of pavement service. At elevated pressure and temperature, the method requires significantly less time, days not months, to determine atmospheric oxidation kinetics parameters than tests at 1 atm. Nevertheless, it allows fundamentals-based durability predictions specific to each material and pavement climate. One atmosphere kinetics parameters predicted from PAV data using a new correlation, together with a pavement oxidation and performance model, form the new performance prediction strategy.