Development of empirical model for predicting G∗/Sinδ and viscosity value for nanoclay and Carbon Nano Tube modified asphalt binder

The present research work was undertaken to develop a simple empirical model to evaluate superpave rutting factor (G∗/Sinδ) and viscosity value for Nano Clay (NC) and Carbon Nano Tube (CNT) modified asphalt binders. The amount of NC was varied as 0%, 2%, 4% and 6%, while CNT was varied as 0%, 0.4%, 0.75%, 1.5% and 2.25% by the weight of control binder. Nanomaterial factors (NCf for NC modified and CNTf for CNT modified asphalt binder) and temperature factors were evaluated to develop the final empirical model for G∗/Sinδ and viscosity. NC factor (NCf) as well as CNT factor (CNTf) were found to have exponential variation for viscosity model. In case of G∗/Sinδ model, CNTf found to have quadratic variation due to reduction in stiffness value at higher CNT doses, whereas, NCf showed exponential variation. Development of empirical model for evaluating G∗/Sinδ and viscosity value for NC and CNT modified asphalt binders has been successfully demonstrated in the present paper. Overall, it is expected that the proposed models may be helpful to practicing engineers for making judicious decision on selection of amount of NC or CNT to improve rutting and workability requirement of asphalt binder.