Evaluation of anti-icing performance for crumb rubber and diatomite compound modified asphalt mixture

• Crumb rubber and diatomite compound modified asphalt mixture was prepared.
• Mechanical properties of compound modified mixture were improved.
• Evaluation of ice breaking rate by image processing technology was satisfactory.
• Correlations of different factors with ice breaking rate were investigated.

In this paper, anti-icing performance of crumb rubber and diatomite compound modified asphalt mixture was evaluated. Firstly, compound modified mixture was prepared in laboratory. Corresponding volumetric parameters and mechanical properties were compared and verified. Secondly, anti-icing test specimens were produced and measured by self-designed apparatus. Ice breaking rate calculated from image processing technology was adopted to assess the anti-icing effect, and correlation analysis was used to evaluate the influence of factors including rolling time, ice thickness, testing temperature and load frequency. Finally, the effects of these factors on anti-icing performance of modified mixture were investigated. Results indicate that the mechanical properties of control asphalt mixture have been improved by crumb rubber and diatomite. The correlation of rolling time for ice breaking rate is strong positive, while it is strong negative of ice thickness and very strong positive of test temperature. Weak correlation between load frequency and ice breaking rate is also observed. The results can provide a reference for anti-icing pavement design using crumb rubber and diatomite compound modified asphalt mixture.