# Enhancing Asphalt Binder Performance and Storage Stability with Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA)
## 3 Results and Discussion
### Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) Test  
Jnr and % Recovery Condition for Both Original and RTFO Condition  
The experiment evaluated various replacement percentages of TLA modified with virgin asphalt binders, both in their original state and after aging using the RTFO method. The primary metrics for assessment were Jnr (creep compliance) and percentage recovery.  
The findings indicated that all TLA-modified binders exhibited lower Jnr values and higher percentages of recovery compared to virgin binders, both in original and RTFO-aged conditions, with standard errors and linear exponential equations as illustrated in  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**G*-sin \(\delta\) at 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C**} \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Combination**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**PG64-22**} & **PG64-22 + 10\%** & **PG64-22 + 10\%** & **PG64-22 + 10\%** \\  & & **TLA** & **TLA** & **TLA** \\ \hline PG64-22 & - & S & S & S \\ PG64-22 + 10\%TLA & - & - & S & S \\ PG64-22 + 10\%TLA & - & - & - & S \\ PG64-22 + 10\%TLA & - & - & - & - \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
\(\lx@sectionsign\)–Significant, N–Non-significant.  
\end{table}
Table 7: Statistical analysis results of the G*-sin \(\delta\) (RTFO + PAV) of CRM binders at 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C as a function of different combinations (\(\alpha\) = 0.05).  
Figure 7: G*-sin \(\delta\) at 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C of the TLA modified binders after RTFO + PAV aged conditions.  
The inclusion of TLA was particularly effective in increasing percentage recovery, thereby enhancing the material's resistance to rutting. Conversely, it led to a reduction in Jnr values, indicating a favorable compromise between fatigue resistance and elastic recovery prior to conditioning.  
After conditioning and comparing the top and bottom parts of the sample, it was observed that the top portion had lower percentage recovery values compared to the bottom part. Jnr values followed a similar trend. Additionally, the percentage recovery values did not show a clear pattern when modified with TLA. Specifically, an initial 10% replacement of TLA resulted in higher percentage recovery values compared to 20%TLA but showed lower values compared to 30%TLA. It was also found that the addition of TLA resulted in lower percentage recovery values compared to the virgin binder, with standard errors and linear exponential equations as shown in Figure 9. The percentage recovery values were almost negligible, rendering statistical analysis impractical after conditioning. Consequently, only Jnr values were considered for statistical analysis after conditioning, as seen in Tables 8-10.  
Figure 8: % Recovery and Jnr at 64 \({}^{\circ}\)C of the TLA modified binders at Original and RTFO condition.  
From a scientific standpoint, the lower Jnr values of TLA-modified binders suggest a decreased susceptibility to fatigue cracking, which can extend the pavement's lifespan by reducing the frequency of maintenance and repairs. The higher percentage recovery values indicate improved elasticity, which enhances the pavement's ability to return to its original shape after deformation, thus providing better resistance to rutting and increasing the pavement's durability. The balance between lower Jnr and higher percentage recovery in TLA-modified binders demonstrates a promising enhancement in both fatigue resistance and elastic recovery, contributing to a longer-lasting and more resilient pavement structure.