Construction of Complex Shear Modulus and Phase Angle Master Curves for Aging Asphalt Binders

ABSTRACT Performance of asphalt concrete pavement significantly degrades during the aging of asphalt binders. The master curves of complex shear modulus and phase angle are recognised as useful tools to characterise the rheological properties of aging asphalt binders. The main shortcoming of existing master curves is that the effects of aging cannot be captured and predicted effectively. This study developed a new method to construct such aging master curves that can be extended to predict the complex shear modulus and phase angle at a wide range of aging time and temperature. The DSR tests were conducted on three different types of asphalt binders with three aging temperatures and four aging durations. The master curves of complex shear modulus and phase angle were constructed for aging asphalt binders through time-temperature-aging shift by performing both rotation and horizontal aging shift. Rotation and horizontal aging shift were determined as the function of aging time and aging temperature. Therefore, it becomes possible and convenient to construct single aging master curves at a wide range of aging temperature and aging time.