Effect of aging on micromechanical behavior of asphalt surfaces using an atomic force microscope

The micro-mechanical properties of asphalt surfaces are significantly impacted by short-term aging during construction and long-term aging in service. This, in turn, affects macroscopic characteristics such as asphalt-aggregate adhesion and water stability of asphalt mixtures. The study investigated different aging processes had different impacts on the micromechanical properties of the asphalt on the surface. The short-term aging process had the most significant effects, while the subsequent long-term aging had similar but less important effects. The adhesion, surface energy, and Young's modulus of five different types of asphalt using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in their original state, after short-term aging through the Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT), and after long-term aging through the RTFOT+Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV). The results showed that ZH and SK asphalts had a distinct "bee structure", and aging had varying effects on adhesion, surface energy, and Young's modulus in different areas (peak, valley, and other region). Before and after asphalt aging, the adhesion and surface energy approximately followed the order other regions > peak > valley, while Young's modulus approximately followed the peak>valley> other regions. This indicates that the bumpy "bee structure" does not always correspond to higher modulus or lower adhesion. It was also found that ZH asphalt and SK asphalt with a "bee structure" exhibited better aging resistance compared to KL asphalt without a "bee structure". The study also revealed that aging led to decreased adhesion and surface energy, while increasing Young's modulus. This finding indicates that as asphalt ages, adhesion decreases and asphalt elasticity increases. Additionally, it was observed that modified asphalt showed less change in adhesion, surface energy, and Young's modulus after aging compared to matrix asphalt, indicating that SBS modifiers contribute to improving the aging resistance of asphalt. These results will provide a good reference for understanding the microscopic changes in asphalt aging properties.