Pavement

Progress towards the development of an integrated specification for Bitumens, Multigrades and Polymer Modified Binders (PMBs) has been achieved by the Austroads Binders project group in 2001/2002. Contributions to this task have been made in the following areas: . Binder nomenclature, . Binder test methods, . Development of new binder properties, and . Laboratory performance studies in support of the new properties. This report presents a summary of the key contributions provided through ARRB Transport Research project activities and from the Austroads Binders project committee activities supported by industry and Austroads member authorities. A program of investigation designed to complete the specification development task is also presented. Two key performance areas have been identified. These are: . High service temperature properties ("Underlying Viscosity") for the control of asphalt deformation, and . Low service temperature properties ("Tensile Loss Modulus") associated with the control of binder fatigue and brittle fracture. Data from several investigations are presented in support of these propert