Self-Healing Performance of Nanoclay-Modified Asphalt Concrete Wearing Course (AC-WC) Mixtures

Sri Sunarjono; Hafnidar A. Rani; Rakha Kalam Mahardhika; Tamalkhani Syammaun; Firmansyah Rachman; Nurul Hidayati; Hafidzul Azmi; Afizah Ayob; Ngafwan

doi:10.48084/etasr.18437

Authors

Sri Sunarjono Department of Civil Engineering, Center for Transportation Study, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Hafnidar A. Rani Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Aceh, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Rakha Kalam Mahardhika Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Tamalkhani Syammaun Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Aceh, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Firmansyah Rachman Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Aceh, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Nurul Hidayati Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Hafidzul Azmi Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Afizah Ayob Faculty of Civil Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
Ngafwan Faculty of Engineering, Center for Nano Materials, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia

Volume: 16 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 36590-36599 | June 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.18437

Received: 28 February 2026 | Revised: 23 April 2026 and 4 May 2026 | Accepted: 8 May 2026 | Online: 15 May 2026

Corresponding author: Sri Sunarjono

Abstract

The deterioration of AC-WC due to repetitive traffic loading and environmental exposure significantly shortens pavement service life. Enhancing the intrinsic self-healing capability of asphalt mixtures through nanomaterial modification has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate this issue. This study investigates the self-healing performance of AC-WC mixtures modified with nanoclay derived from locally sourced clay. Nanoclay was produced using a soaking-filtration method and characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), confirming nanoscale particle dimensions of approximately 250 nm and a dominant silica and alumina content. Asphalt binders modified with various nanoclay contents were evaluated for penetration, specific gravity, softening point, and ductility. AC-WC Marshall specimens were prepared and tested under three conditions: initial, controlled damaged (approximately 20-25% reduction in stability), and thermally healed (60°C for 24 hours followed by room-temperature conditioning). Self-healing performance was evaluated using a Marshall stability-based Self-Healing Index (SHI), which provides a practical indicator of strength recovery at the mixture scale. The results indicate that nanoclay modification significantly influences the physical and mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures. Nanoclay addition reduced penetration and ductility while increasing specific gravity and softening point, indicating enhanced stiffness and improved resistance to temperature-induced deformation. Self-healing performance improved at moderate nanoclay contents, with the highest SHI value of 0.65 achieved at 4% nanoclay addition, compared to 0.49 for the unmodified mixture. However, higher nanoclay contents reduced healing efficiency due to increased stiffness and particle agglomeration, which restricted molecular diffusion during the healing phase. These findings suggest that nanoclay can enhance both mechanical performance and strength recovery of AC-WC mixtures when applied at an optimal dosage. The use of locally sourced nanoclay further highlights its potential as a sustainable and practical additive for improving pavement durability in conventional engineering applications.

Keywords:

nanoclay, self-healing performance, asphalt concrete wearing course, modified asphalt mixtures, pavement durability

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