A kind of neat asphalt and three kinds of diatomite asphalt are tested using differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）. The anti-cracking mechanism of diatomite asphalt is analyzed by DSC and the thermal stress restrained specimen test（TSRST） of the asphalt mixtures. The results show that the low temperature performance of diatomite asphalt is better than that of neat asphalt. The glass transition temperature can reflect the low temperature performance of the diatomite asphalt better and has a good relationship with breaking temperatures. Besides, the TSRST, the bending test, the compressing test and the contraction coefficient test are used to study the low temperature performance of the diatomite asphalt mixture. The results prove that the low temperature performance of the diatomite asphalt mixture is better than that of the neat asphalt mixture. The critical bending strain energy density and the compressing strain energy density of the diatomite asphalt mixture are greater than those of the neat asphalt mixture. After adding diatomite to the asphalt mixture, the contraction coefficient is reduced. Based on the above results, the anti-cracking mechanism of the diatomite asphalt mixture is analyzed from the angle of contraction performance and breaking energy.
