Air-entrained　recycled　concrete　aggregate　(AE-RCA),　with　strong　frost　resistance,　cannot　be　effectively　modified　using　the　freeze-thaw　modification　that　combines　thermo-drying　and　freeze-thaw　cycles.　To　address　this　issue,　the　modification　technique　was　improved　by　introducing　the　pre-treatment　of　vacuum　saturation.　Subsequently,　experimental　investigations　were　conducted　to　validate　the　modified　effect　of　the　improved　freeze-thaw　modification.　The　results　demonstrated　that　the　improved　method　shows　higher　efficiency　in　treating　AE-RCA,　particularly　for　the　aggregates　with　a　low　water-to-cement　ratio.　A　theoretical　analysis　was　conducted　on　various　influential　factors　within　the　new　modification　method,　utilizing　the　thick-walled　spherical　model　and　the　theory　of　pore　water　freezing.　The　primary　factors　under　consideration　included　the　water-to-cement　ratio,　air　content,　natural　aggregate　radius,　thickness　of　attached　mortar,　thermo-drying　temperature,　minimum　temperature,　and　saturation　method.　The　distribution　of　tangential　strain　in　the　attached　mortar　and　the　displacement　at　the　Interfacial　Transition　Zone　(ITZ)　were　chosen　as　comparative　indices.　Finally,　the　integration　of　theoretical　analysis　and　experimental　results　led　to　the　development　of　a　predictive　model　capable　of　estimating　the　required　number　of　freeze-thaw　modifications　under　various　conditions　quickly.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd