Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Fracture Energy Recovery in Early-Damaged Asphalt Mixtures: Damage-State Regulation by Basalt Fiber Reinforcement

Microwave-assisted recovery provides a potential approach for restoring fracture damage in asphalt mixtures, but previous studies have mainly focused on heating and curing conditions, while the role of the pre-heating fracture state remains less understood. This study investigated microwave-assisted fracture energy recovery from a damage-state regulation perspective by comparing a control asphalt mixture (CAM) with a basalt fiber-reinforced asphalt mixture (BFAM). Semi-circular bending (SCB) tests were combined with an L9 orthogonal design to evaluate three pre-heating conditions, target surface temperatures of 45–85 °C, and curing times of 6–24 h. Rather than directly enhancing binder recovery, basalt fiber reinforcement increased the initial fracture resistance and altered the relative fracture condition reached under a given external load. The recovery index RI ranged from 20.7% to 55.9% for CAM and from 35.2% to 82.3% for BFAM. Main-effects ANOVA showed that the pre-heating damage condition had the largest main-effect contribution within the adopted L9 framework, reaching 82.3% for CAM and 95.2% for BFAM, substantially exceeding those of target surface temperature and curing time. Under a comparable external load of approximately 2.5 kN, CAM reached the 70% Pmax condition, whereas BFAM remained at the 40% Pmax condition, with corresponding mean RI values of 42.8% and 76.9%. These results support a proposed conceptual damage-state regulation framework within the investigated material and experimental conditions, in which basalt fiber reinforcement preserves a more favorable pre-heating state and thereby greater recovery potential. The findings highlight the importance of improving fracture resistance and applying microwave-assisted treatment before extensive fracture development occurs, while broader validation is required before generalizing the proposed framework to other materials or field conditions.