Fatigue performance evolution of epoxy asphalt binders and mixtures: Effects of epoxy content and strain level
Source abstract
Abstract
Epoxy asphalt is widely used in steel bridge deck pavements, airport pavements, and high-grade roadways due to its superior performance, yet its fatigue damage evolution mechanisms remain insufficiently studied. This study investigated the fatigue performance of epoxy asphalt binder (EAB) and epoxy asphalt mixture (EAM) through linear amplitude sweep tests and four-point bending beam fatigue experiments. By analyzing fatigue parameters across varying epoxy contents and strain levels, predictive correlation models were developed between EAB and EAM fatigue performance. Furthermore, the finite element method (FEM) was employed to compare the fatigue behavior of conventional asphalt and epoxy asphalt pavements. Results demonstrate that the EAM enters a stable fatigue damage accumulation phase when the stiffness modulus decays to 75% of its initial value. Both EAB and EAM exhibit extended fatigue life with increased epoxy content or reduced strain levels, accompanied by enhanced cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) and reduced energy dissipation rates in EAM. Notably, CDE and plateau values exhibit robust logarithmic-linear correlations with EAM fatigue life (R2=0.99 andR2=0.97, respectively), independent of variations in strain or epoxy content. Sensitivity analysis reveals CDE as the most epoxy-content-sensitive parameter, suggesting its potential as a key control factor in fatigue design. The proposed EAB-EAM correlation model further enables accurate prediction of mixture fatigue life based on binder properties. FEM simulations demonstrate that EAM pavement structures have significantly lower tensile strain and better fatigue resistance compared to conventional asphalt mixtures, translating to reduced maintenance frequency and lower lifecycle carbon emissions. The findings of this research enhance the understanding of epoxy asphalt fatigue mechanisms while offering practical guidance for optimizing pavement design.
Source: expertdata · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Asphalt Pavement Performance Evaluation · Infrastructure Maintenance and Monitoring · Epoxy Resin Curing Processes
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
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