Performance Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures with Modified Buton Asphalt and Bio-Binders Using Indirect Tensile Strength Test

Abstract

This research is part of a broader initiative aimed at optimizing the utilization of Buton Island’s abundant natural asphalt reserves, which are distributed across several regions in Indonesia. In developing asphalt mixtures, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability are key considerations. This study investigates the performance of Asphalt Concrete-Wearing Course (AC-WC) mixtures modified with Buton asphalt (mBa) and enhanced using bio-binder technology incorporating Colophonium resin (rosin). The effectiveness of these modified asphalt mixtures is evaluated through the Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) test under monotonic loading conditions. The mixture used includes Retona Blend 55—a product derived from mBa—and rosin extracted from pine bark sap and subsequently processed. The combination of Retona Blend 55 and rosin aims to improve critical mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and strain capacity. This study provides insights into the characteristics of Retona Blend 55, rosin, and the bio-binder technology, as well as their interactions within the AC-WC mixture. The ITS test results show that the incorporation of 2.5% rosin into the asphalt mixture significantly increased the ITS value from 0.387 MPa to 0.807 MPa, representing an improvement of 108.52%. This numerical outcome highlights that the addition of rosin effectively enhances the tensile strength, cohesion, and overall deformation resistance of the modified AC-WC mixtures.

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