Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental Approach
Flexible pavements stand out as the most commonly used worldwide, compared to rigid and composite pavements, owing to their versatility and widespread application. The use of hot mix asphalt (HMA) in flexible pavements causes significant environmental concerns due to high CO<sub>2</sub>...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1761 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850238801293606912 |
|---|---|
| author | Mustafa Çakı Fatih İrfan Baş |
| author_facet | Mustafa Çakı Fatih İrfan Baş |
| author_sort | Mustafa Çakı |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flexible pavements stand out as the most commonly used worldwide, compared to rigid and composite pavements, owing to their versatility and widespread application. The use of hot mix asphalt (HMA) in flexible pavements causes significant environmental concerns due to high CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and energy consumption, whereas warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies have gained popularity in recent decades, offering a more sustainable alternative by enabling asphalt production at lower temperatures. WMA technologies can be categorized into three main groups: foaming, organic additives, and chemical additives, with each offering distinct benefits for performance and environmental impact. One of the chemical additives used in WMA production is Cecabase RT BIO10. In this study, virgin bitumen with 50/70 penetration was modified by adding Cecabase RT BIO10 at four levels: 0%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% by weight. The experimental design employed a Taguchi L16 orthogonal array to systematically evaluate the effects of various factors on modified bitumen performance. Binders were prepared at four temperatures (110 °C, 120 °C, 130 °C, and 140 °C), four mixing durations (15, 20, 25, and 30 min), and four mixing speeds (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 rpm), enabling an efficient analysis of each parameter’s impact. The prepared binders were subjected to a series of tests, including penetration, softening point, flash point, rotational thin film oven test (RTFOT), elastic recovery, Marshall stability, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and FTIR analysis. These tests were conducted to investigate the effects of various parameters and levels on the binder properties. Additionally, stiffness and seismic modules were evaluated to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the binder’s performance. The experiment results revealed that the penetration, elastic recovery percentage, and Marshall stability increased with increasing additive content while the softening point and RTFOT mass loss decreased. At a high service temperature of 40 °C, the stiffness modulus of the modified bitumen decreased slightly. At a low service temperature of −10 °C, it decreased further. Additionally, the incorporation of Cecabase RT BIO10 led to an increase in the seismic modulus. Through optimization using the Taguchi method, the optimal levels were determined to be a 0.4% Cecabase RT BIO10 ratio, 140 °C mixing temperature, 30 min mixing time, and 1000 RPM mixing speed. The optimal responses for each test were identified and integrated into a unified optimal response, resulting in a comprehensive design guide with 95% confidence level estimates for all possible level combinations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-04bab4d7182348c387eb5a3bbeab8aee |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-04bab4d7182348c387eb5a3bbeab8aee2025-08-20T02:01:20ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01154176110.3390/app15041761Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental ApproachMustafa Çakı0Fatih İrfan Baş1Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan 24002, TürkiyeDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan 24002, TürkiyeFlexible pavements stand out as the most commonly used worldwide, compared to rigid and composite pavements, owing to their versatility and widespread application. The use of hot mix asphalt (HMA) in flexible pavements causes significant environmental concerns due to high CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and energy consumption, whereas warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies have gained popularity in recent decades, offering a more sustainable alternative by enabling asphalt production at lower temperatures. WMA technologies can be categorized into three main groups: foaming, organic additives, and chemical additives, with each offering distinct benefits for performance and environmental impact. One of the chemical additives used in WMA production is Cecabase RT BIO10. In this study, virgin bitumen with 50/70 penetration was modified by adding Cecabase RT BIO10 at four levels: 0%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% by weight. The experimental design employed a Taguchi L16 orthogonal array to systematically evaluate the effects of various factors on modified bitumen performance. Binders were prepared at four temperatures (110 °C, 120 °C, 130 °C, and 140 °C), four mixing durations (15, 20, 25, and 30 min), and four mixing speeds (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 rpm), enabling an efficient analysis of each parameter’s impact. The prepared binders were subjected to a series of tests, including penetration, softening point, flash point, rotational thin film oven test (RTFOT), elastic recovery, Marshall stability, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and FTIR analysis. These tests were conducted to investigate the effects of various parameters and levels on the binder properties. Additionally, stiffness and seismic modules were evaluated to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the binder’s performance. The experiment results revealed that the penetration, elastic recovery percentage, and Marshall stability increased with increasing additive content while the softening point and RTFOT mass loss decreased. At a high service temperature of 40 °C, the stiffness modulus of the modified bitumen decreased slightly. At a low service temperature of −10 °C, it decreased further. Additionally, the incorporation of Cecabase RT BIO10 led to an increase in the seismic modulus. Through optimization using the Taguchi method, the optimal levels were determined to be a 0.4% Cecabase RT BIO10 ratio, 140 °C mixing temperature, 30 min mixing time, and 1000 RPM mixing speed. The optimal responses for each test were identified and integrated into a unified optimal response, resulting in a comprehensive design guide with 95% confidence level estimates for all possible level combinations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1761Cecabase RT BIO10Marshall stabilitymodified bitumenwarm mix asphalt (WMA)FTIR |
| spellingShingle | Mustafa Çakı Fatih İrfan Baş Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental Approach Applied Sciences Cecabase RT BIO10 Marshall stability modified bitumen warm mix asphalt (WMA) FTIR |
| title | Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_full | Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_short | Optimizing Bitumen Performance in Warm Mix Asphalt Using Cecabase RT BIO10: A Taguchi-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_sort | optimizing bitumen performance in warm mix asphalt using cecabase rt bio10 a taguchi based experimental approach |
| topic | Cecabase RT BIO10 Marshall stability modified bitumen warm mix asphalt (WMA) FTIR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1761 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mustafacakı optimizingbitumenperformanceinwarmmixasphaltusingcecabasertbio10ataguchibasedexperimentalapproach AT fatihirfanbas optimizingbitumenperformanceinwarmmixasphaltusingcecabasertbio10ataguchibasedexperimentalapproach |