RHEOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF RECLAIMED ASPHALT PAVEMENT MIXTURES MODIFIED WITH SUGARCANE BAGASSE BIO-ASPHALT

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable pavement materials has intensified the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) to reduce consumption of virgin aggregates and petroleum-based binders. However, oxidative aging of RAP binders leads to excessive stiffness, reduced elasticity, and increased susceptibility to cracking, limiting its broader application. This study evaluates the effectiveness of sugarcane bagasse–derived bio-asphalt as a bio-based rejuvenator to restore and enhance the rheological performance of aged asphalt binders. Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) tests were conducted under original, short-term aging (RTFOT), and long-term aging (PAV) conditions to assess complex modulus (G*) and phase angle (δ). The results demonstrate that the incorporation of bio-asphalt improves viscoelastic balance by reducing phase angle and stabilizing stiffness across a wide temperature range. Compared with virgin asphalt, the rejuvenated binder exhibited enhanced resistance to permanent deformation at medium to high service temperatures and improved durability against aging-induced hardening. These findings confirm that sugarcane bagasse bio-asphalt is a promising sustainable rejuvenator capable of restoring aged binder properties, mitigating aging effects, and supporting environmentally responsible pavement technologies.