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Abstract

Asphalt pavement generates cracking damage under the action of vehicle loads and other factors, which triggers various distresses. Microwave heating technology can rapidly increase the temperature of mixtures, enhance the self-healing capacity of asphalt, and thereby repair the damage. The research progress on the self-healing capacity of asphalt mixtures by microwave heating was reviewed in this paper and summarized from four aspects:the self-healing mechanisms under microwave heating, test methods, evaluation indicators, and influencing factors of the self-healing capacity. The results indicate that microwaves promote the flow and healing of asphalt through multiple mechanisms;the loading states of mixtures were simulated by researchers through fatigue and monotonic loading, and the self-healing capacity was evaluated using multi-dimensional indicators such as mechanics and cracking characteristics;the influences of factors such as the content of microwave-sensitive admixtures and heating conditions on the self-healing capacity by microwave heating exhibit complex patterns. By summarizing the research progress, the following conclusions are drawn:The nonlinear variation characteristics of the self-healing capacity by microwave heating remain to be further explored;the coupling effects of multiple factors on the self-healing capacity still need to be decoupled;the correlations between the existing test methods and the actual service conditions need to be strengthened;the sources of microwave-sensitive admixtures should be expanded, and the costs should be reduced to promote the engineering applications of the self-healing technology by microwave heating.

Publication Date

4-24-2026

DOI

10.14048/j.issn.1671-2579.2026.02.011

First Page

95

Last Page

105

Submission Date

April 2026

Reference

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