Comparative Analysis of Various Short-Term and Long-Term Laboratory Aging Methods of Asphalt Binder from the Rheological Perspective

This study evaluates the impact of various aging conditioning methods, including the newly developed Universal Simple Aging Test (USAT) and Ultraviolet (UV) aging, against the traditional Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) and Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV), on the rheological properties of asphalt binder. The results reveal that the effects of RTFO and USAT on asphalt binders are comparable for short-term aging. Specifically, the crossover frequency (.c) and fatigue life (Nf) of virgin asphalt (VA) are similarly reduced by 53-55% and 39-41% for both RTFO and USAT methods, suggesting USAT as a budget-friendly alternative for lab aging in absence of RTFO units. In contrast, USAT and UV methods fail to replicate the aging severity achieved by the PAV method for long-term lab aging. This is apparent from the more than 95% reduction in Nf value after PAV aging, versus the 70%-80% decrease with USAT and UVaging. These insights are essential for enhancing the understanding of asphalt binder aging and for selecting appropriate lab aging methods in pavement engineering research and practice.