PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE CRACKING

H. Soenen
Nynas NV, Belgium
A.Vanelstraete
Begian Road Research Centre, Belgium

Abstract
Results from binder test methods, believed to be relevant regarding low temperature cracking have been
evaluated, making use of literature and common data (BRRC and Nynas) of binders belonging to different
penetration classes. The data include bending beam rheometer results (BBR), Fraass breaking temperatures and
some direct tensile test data. When possible, they were compared with Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen
Tests (TSRST) on the corresponding asphalt mixes. Unmodified and modified binders were considered.
Out of these tests, BBR seems, at this moment to be the best binder test to predict low temperature behaviour, it
is suitable for unmodified binders and still acceptably good for polymer modified binders.
The database made it possible:
- to compare the BBR-temperatures corresponding to the S(60s) = 300 MPa - and the m(60s) = 0,3
criteria, for a large number of binders.
- to obtain ranges for the highest limiting BBR-temperatures and mix fracture temperatures for different
grades of bitumen.
It follows from this database that the addition of polymer generally has only a limited effect on the highest
limiting BBR temperature compared to the original base binder. However, if binders of the same penetration
class are compared, polymer modified binders generally perform better at low temperatures. Ageing as well as
blowing of bitumen binders generally leads to a higher effect on the limiting temperature deduced from the mvalue than on the temperature deduced from the S-value. The consequences of this with regard to low
temperature cracking need to be further evaluated.

1. Introduction.
Low temperature cracking is a form of thermal cracking and results from a single drop in temperature to an
extreme low, below the fracture temperature of the asphalt-aggregate mixture. Upon lowering the temperature,
the stress relaxation ability decreases and at a certain point the induced thermal stress exceeds the maximum
tensile strength of the asphalt concrete layer, and the mixture will fracture. Transverse cracks result, which start
at the surface layer, where the temperature is lowest (1). A number of candidate binder properties, believed to be
able to predict the occurrence of low temperature cracking have been identified: stiffness and creep rate from the
bending beam rheometer (BBR), fracture properties from direct tensile tests (DTT),or from the Fraass test. In
addition the glass transition temperature and certain particular fractions from gel permeation chromatography (2)
have been reported as indicators.
The aim of this study was not to develop another binder test, but it was the intention to evaluate the different
already existing binder properties. In order to validate binder candidate properties for a large range of bitumen
types, the study should also be based on a large variety of samples. Therefore we have not only used our own
common test results of Nynas and BRRC, but made also use of published data.
On asphalt mixes, a well-known test to simulate mix cracking in the field is certainly the Thermal Stress
Restrained Specimen Test (TSRST), which can be used by itself, or combined wit direct or indirect tensile tests
(DTT) or (IDT) (19). It has been shown that TSRST tests relate to the occurrence of low temperature cracking in
field test trials (20). We note that all fracture data on asphalt mixes considered in this paper were obtained with
the TSRST.

2. Binder test methods versus mix fracture test results.

Initially, mix fracture data were collected and compared with the corresponding properties of the original binder
(2-18). A large data set was obtained for straight run and polymer modified binders (PmB), but with regard to
aging, it was not possible to get enough data, relating properties of aged binders versus fracture tests of aged
mix slabs. Therefore, the evaluation of binder indicators, presented here, may need some additional
confirmation for aged samples. Asphalt concrete and stone mastic mixes were considered, since as shown in ref.
2, for these mixes the mix type has almost no influence on the low temperature performance. In the mixes
considered the binder content, respectively degree of compaction showed a variation between 4.7 - 6.2 weight
%, and between 96% - 97.6%.
In figure 1 the Fraass fracture temperature of the original binder is compared with TSRST data on the
corresponding mix, a line indicating equal binder and mix fracture temperatures (line of equality, LoE) is also
plotted. Data were available for 16 unmodified binders, including various crude origins, and for 25 PmBs,
plastomer as well as elastomer modifications with 3 to 6% of polymer. It is clear from Figure 1 that the Fraass
test is not very indicative for low temperature cracking, the correlation coefficients are low or the deviation to
the linear trend line is large. In this study we did not make a distinction whether the Fraass temperature was
determined manually or not. A number of reasons for the rather poor predictive power of the Fraass tests has
been reported; including the rather low inter laboratory precision of the Fraass test, problems with the detection
of cracks in highly modified samples, the high strain rates attained in this test, and the fact that this test is a
repeated loading and may therefore suffer from fatigue cracking.
0

Fraass fracture temp., (C)

-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30

R2 = 0.43

unmodified bit.

R2 = 0.47

polymer mod. bit.

-35
-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

TSRST fracture temp., (C)

Figure 1:

Fraass fracture temperature of the original binder versus TSRST fracture temperature of the
corresponding mix.

As a second binder test, BBR limiting temperatures were evaluated. Three limiting temperatures are often used,
and are therefore checked for their relevance, independent of their physical meaning:
- the limiting stiffness temperature (LST), as the temperature where the stiffness is equal to 300MPa after 60s
loading.
- the limiting m temperature (LmT) as the temperature where m (dlog(S)/dt) the creep rate is equal to 0.3 after
60s loading.
- the highest limiting temperature (HLT), as the highest one of S and m.
In figure 2 HLT is plotted versus the TSRST temperature, as well as a line of equal binder and mix fracture
temperature (line of equality, LoE). The sample selection consisted of 20 unmodified binders from different
crude origin and 30 polymer modified binders including high polymer modification with different types of
polymers. For the unmodified binders a high correlation is obtained, even over different laboratories. For PmBs
the correlation drops significantly, although the trend line is the same as for the unmodified samples. This may
indicate that PmBs have a higher random scatter, but follow the same trend as unmodified binders. In addition,
the difference between the mix fracture and BBR temperature is not a constant, as indicated by comparing with

the LoE. At low temperatures, -35C, the BBR limiting temperature is about 10C higher as the mix fracture
temperature, while at -15C, this difference is reduced to 5C.
In figure 3, the limiting temperature (temperature where fracture occurs at 1% strain) obtained from DTT is
plotted versus mix fracture temperatures. The correlation coefficient is high for the unmodified binders and low
for the PmBs, but the number of samples is too small to draw firm conclusions, only 9 unmodified and 5 PmBs
with rather low polymer modification were involved. The DTT test may look promising, but more data are
needed to confirm this statement.
0.0

Highest limiting temp., (C)

-5.0
-10.0
-15.0
-20.0
-25.0
R2 = 0.86
-30.0

R = 0.63

unmodified bit.
polymer mod. bit.

-35.0
-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

TSRST fracture temp., (C)

Figure 2:

HLT (BBR) of binder versus mix fracture temperature.

To evaluate the impact of the bitumen grade, the penetration at 25C is considered in figure 4. For unmodified
samples, one specific penetration level can lead to a variation in fracture temperatures of about 8C. Differences
in temperature susceptibility and/or the presence of crystallising components are certainly contributing factors to
this large variation. For unmodified samples, which differ only in penetration grade, a doubling of this
penetration roughly shifts the mix fracture temperature by about 4C.
If PmBs and unmodified samples of the same pen class are compared, PmBs generally have better low
temperature properties than an unmodified sample of the same penetration, in particular for softer grades.
0

Highest limiting temp., (C)

-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30

R2 = 0.86

unmodified bit.

R2 = 0.12

polymer mod. bit.

-35
-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

TSRST fracture temp., (C)

Figure 3:

DTT limiting binder temperature versus TSRST mix fracture temperature.

unmodified bit.

PmB

Penetration 25C; (1/10 mm)

200

150

100

50

0
-40

-35

-30

-25

-20

TSRST fracture temp., (C)

Figure 4:

-15

-35

-30

-25 -20 -15 -10

HLT (BBR); (C)

-5

Penetration at 25C versus fracture temperature of the corresponding mix.

3. Further analysis of BBR test results for a large number of binders.

LmT (aged) - LmT (unaged); (C)

The influence of aging on the BBR limiting temperatures was further investigated. In figure 5 the change in
LST versus the change in LmT going from the unaged to the aged residue, is compared. A short-term aging
procedure, RTFOT, as defined by SHRP, and two long-term aging procedures (the PAV aging, according to
SHRP and the Belgian Rotating Cyclinder Aging Test, RCAT) were considered, as well as some recovered
samples. Generally, upon aging, LmT increases a lot more than LST. Since the creep rate is related to the
relaxation potential of the binder, a decrease in m indicates a decrease in stress relaxation potential. This was
also observed for blown binders for which the reduction in relaxation capacity can be extremely large (11, 17).
18

RTFOT aged binders

16

SHRP aged binders

14

Rcat aged binders

12

recovered binders (2-7 years)

10
8
6
4
2
0
-1

Figure 5:

2
3
4
LST (aged) - LST (unaged); (C)

Changes in limiting BBR temperature upon aging.

Figure 6 shows the change in LST and LmT upon polymer modification. The database consisted of 48 (unaged)
PmBs, based on different crude origin. Concerning LST; the addition of polymers has either no effect on the
limiting stiffness temperature or leads to a more negative LST, so improving the low temperature performance.
Regarding LmT; the addition of polymers may have different impacts. If the highest limiting temperature is less
negative upon polymer modification, it is always because of the fact that LmT has become less negative.
Polymer modification can slightly reduce the HLT compared to the unmodified base bitumen, but the effect is
generally limited (in this data base 3C at maximum)

If on the contrary binders of the same penetration class are compared, polymer modified binders generally show
lower (more negative) limiting BBR-temperatures than unmodified binders. This can clearly be seen in figure 4.
The effect is more pronounced for softer binders.

Limiting Temp. (BBR) PmB; (C)

-10.0
-15.0
-20.0
-25.0
LST, after polymer
modification
LmT after polymer
modification

-30.0
-35.0
-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

Limiting Temp. (BBR) unmodified base; (C)

Figure 6:

An example of the change in BBR limiting temperatures due to polymer modification, compared
to the unmodifed base bitumen.

4. Conclusions.
-

At the moment, BBR seems to be the best binder test to predict low temperature behaviour, it is suitable for
unmodified binders and still acceptable for PmBs.
The difference between BBR and TSRST mix fracture temperatures is not completely constant, at 35C,
this difference is 10C, at -15C the difference is 5C.
DTT may correlate well with fracture data on asphalt mixes, however more data are necessary.
Polymer modification has very little effect on the low temperature properties of the base bitumen, however if
bitumen of the same penetration class are compared, polymer modified binders generally perform better.
Aging or blowing reduces the relaxation potential of bituminous binders extremely, while the effect on the
low temperature stiffness is only moderate. The consequences of this with regard to low temperature
performance need to be further investigated.
For a given penetration at 25C, a variability of 8C in mix fracture and BBR temperatures has been
observed for unmodified binders.

5. References.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

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