Abstract To improve the self‐healing properties and reduce the reaction energy barrier during the self‐healing process of aged asphalt‐binders, this study utilized residual oil extracted from soybean to regenerate the aged asphalt‐binder and enhance its rheological properties including the self‐recovery potential. The self‐healing properties from the reaction energy barrier and chemical structure were characterized using molecular dynamic simulations. In addition, the rheological properties were measured and quantified using the dynamic shear rheometer test device. From the study results, the least reaction energy (30.16 kcal·mol−1) barrier registered during the self‐healing process of the regenerated asphalt‐binder occurred at 5.8 wt% residual Soybean‐oil, and was thus, deemed as the optimum oil content. The results further indicated that the residual soybean‐oil had a significant influence on the spatial configuration of the molecules in the aged asphalt‐binder, particularly on the saturates and aromatics components. Overall, the study findings indicated that residual Soybean‐oil can potentially reduce the reaction energy barrier of aged asphalt‐binders and enhance the self‐healing properties including fatigue life.
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