Impact of the addition of Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) on the rheological and mechanical behavior of two asphalt binders

The use of modifiers to improve the performance of asphalt materials when subjected to loading and climate effects has become an increasingly common practice. Among these products, the natural Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) has been shown to improve pavement performance. The objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of the addition of four different TLA contents (0%, 15%, 25%, and 50%) on the performance characteristics of asphalt binders and mixtures. For that, two base-binders are modified with TLA and used in the composition of eight asphalt mixtures. Several mechanical tests are performed to evaluate the stiffness characteristics and resistance to damage provided by the different TLA contents. The results indicate that the addition of TLA stiffens the base binders and improves the rutting resistance. The cracking resistance of the material is not necessarily affected by the stiffening effect provided by the TLA.