Determination of low-temperature crack resistance of asphalt mastics based on relaxation properties

Pavement structures experience stresses due to temperature changes, and these stresses gradually dissipate, similar to the rheological phenomenon of stress relaxation. In this study, we conducted various tests, including low-temperature stress relaxation, low-temperature bending beam rheology test, glass transition temperature test, and asphalt single-edge-notch bending test, to compare and analyze the relaxation performance and low-temperature crack resistance of asphalt mastics. Using the SPSS method, we investigated the correlation between the relaxation performance and low-temperature crack resistance of asphalt mastics. The results revealed that the relaxation time and rate obtained in the small beam bending test were reliable indicators for evaluating the relaxation performance of asphalt mastics. Moreover, the relaxation performance of asphalt mastics exhibited a strong linear relationship with low-temperature crack resistance, as evidenced by the asphalt performance ranking. Through multiple linear regression analysis of relaxation properties, we derived a prediction equation for the low-temperature cracking resistance of asphalt mastics.