High temperature in asphalt pavements often leads to rutting of asphalt pavements and heat island effects in urban areas. In this study, to improve the thermal resistance of asphalt pavement, hollow glass microspheres (HGM) modified asphalt and HGM/Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) modified asphalt were used to prepare asphalt concrete (AC) and stone mastic asphalt (SMA) respectively. The effects of HGM on the penetration, ductility, softening point and rheological properties of asphalt binder and the cooling performance, mechanical property, high temperature stability, low temperature resistance, water stability and other properties of asphalt mixture were investigated. Finally, the composition of the thermal resistance surface layer was recommended. Results showed that, adding HGM increased the high temperature stability of both matrix asphalt and SBS modified asphalt while the low temperature performance of both the two types of asphalts decreased. For the asphalt mixture, the addition of HGM improved the cooling performance of the AC-13 mixture but had no effect on the cooling performance of the SMA-13 mixture. HGM also showed positive effects on the pavement performance of the asphalt mixtures. For the AC-13 mixture, it improved the mechanical property, high-temperature stability, low-temperature cracking resistance and immersion residue stability but had no effect on the thaw-splitting strength ratio (TSR). For the SMA-13 mixture, it improved the Marshall stability, high-temperature stability, immersion residue stability, scattering resistance while impaired the low-temperature crack resistance, TSR and anti-drainage ability. Finally, it was recommended to use 5% HGM modified AC-13 mixture as the thermal resistance surface layer.

Introduction

Due to its dark color, asphalt mixture has a high solar radiation absorption rate in the natural environment. Long sunshine exposure causes the asphalt pavement to absorb a large amount of heat, resulting in the continuous increase of the road surface temperature and rutting. As one of the most typical and extensive forms of distress, rutting reduces the comfort and safety of driving, affects the performance of asphalt pavement [1]. Besides, the high temperature of road surface also causes urban heat island effect in cities [2]. The heat accumulated due to heat island effect also leads to urban heating, aggravates air pollution and causes harm to residents’ health [3]. In order to reduce the negative impact of high temperature on the road surface, many measures have been taken.