The effect of water solution erosion on rheological, cohesion and adhesion properties of asphalt

Abstract Asphalt pavement will be damaged under the action of asphalt aging and moisture damage. Water solution erosion degree is closely related to the aging of asphalt and degradation of the adhesive strength between asphalt and aggregate. In view of this, this paper investigated the effect of water solution erosion on rheological, cohesion and adhesion properties of virgin and aged asphalt. The experiment was performed by immersing asphalt into five different water solutions (includes distilled water, acid solution, alkali solution, sodium chloride solution and sodium sulfate solution) for different time, which was considered to be fully reflect the real service condition within an asphalt pavement in different areas. The rheological properties were evaluated by dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), the cohesion and adhesion properties based on the surface free energy test were got by sessile drop method. Meanwhile, the relationships between asphalt rheological, cohesion and adhesion properties with aqueous solute and water solution erosion time were studied. The effects of water solution erosion on virgin asphalt and its PAV aged asphalt were compared. It was observed that water solution erosion resulted in the increased of asphalt elastic component and stiffness, decreased of asphalt fatigue life and the cohesive force and adhesion to aggregates. This trend was reduced to some extent with the presence of acid, alkali, and salt solutes. Under the action of water solution erosion, PAV aged asphalt showed a worse resistance to water solution erosion. And unlike heat-aging and ultraviolet-aging, the development trends of rheological, cohesion and adhesion properties of asphalt were more complex and variable with the change of asphalt surface component.