Ultrasonic-assisted preparation of SBS modified asphalt: Cavitation bubble numerical simulation and rheological properties

SBS (styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer) is currently the most widely used asphalt modifier, and SBS modified asphalt is usually prepared by high-speed shearing. This paper combines the cavitation effect of ultrasonic to assist in the preparation of SBS modified asphalt, and conducts numerical simulation and rheological properties research on the cavitation bubbles in the molten SBS modified asphalt fluid. The cavitation bubbles in the modified asphalt fluid will expand and contract as the pressure changes inside and outside the bubbles. When the cavitation bubble is compressed to the minimum and the pressure inside the bubble reaches 1.94 × 105Pa, the direction of the velocity vector near the cavitation bubble will change with the expansion and compression of the bubble. The expansion–contraction process of a single cavitation bubble can release 6.41 × 10-7J of energy, thus breaking the long bonds in asphalt and generating a large number of free radicals react with the unsaturated C = C bonds in the SBS molecules. According to the preparation process of modified asphalt, the influence of ultrasonic wave on rheological property of modified asphalt was studied through experiments. The results show that ultrasonic treatment can enhance the elasticity of asphalt and improve the temperature sensitivity of asphalt. With the increase of ultrasonic treatment time, the anti-rutting deformation ability of SBS modified asphalt is greatly improved. At the same temperature, the recovery rate of asphalt also increases with the increase of ultrasonic treatment time, and the non-recoverable compliance (Jnr) decreases Combined with the numerical simulation of cavitation bubbles, the ultrasonic process is added to asphalt production, which is of great significance for the green production of modified asphalt and the improvement of the rheological properties of modified asphalt.