Book Description
A primary objective for the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) A-003A contract was to extend and verify the results obtained by other SHRP contractors on the performance-related characteristics of asphalt binders in paving mixes. This report specifically addresses validation of the following: 1) binder properties proposed by the A-002A contractor to predict asphalt-aggregate mix performance in terms of fatigue, permanent deformation, and thermal cracking; and 2) conditioning procedures that produce binder properties representative of those in a pavement immediately after construction and after several years of service. While water sensitivity requirements are not included in the binder specification, validation efforts in the water-sensitivity area are also described. Materials used in the investigation included 8 to 16 asphalt binders and 2 to 4 aggregates obtained from the SHRP Materials Reference Library.