Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2024
Location: Online, 1:00 – 2:00pm AEST
Organiser: Austroads
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A large proportion of the road networks in Australia and New Zealand consist of flexible granular pavements protected by sprayed sealing surfacings. An Austroads sprayed seal trial site was established in Coober Pedy in South Australia during 2011 to evaluate the relative performance of seals constructed with different grades of binders from their placement through to long‑term service. The site was constructed to predominantly compare the performance of different Austroads Technical Specification ATS 3110 polymer modified binder (PMB) grades when they were used in strain alleviating membrane (SAM) applications.
The webinar will describe the findings obtained from an inspection of the trial site conducted 11 years after construction. The inspection included detailed visual assessments of the condition of each trial section by an expert team. Seal samples were also obtained from the trial sections so that binders could be extracted for rheological and chemical analysis tests. The test results obtained for the extracted binder samples have been used to gain insights into how the properties of the trial binders have changed over time.
The results of the visual assessment work indicated that all sections of the trial site were generally performing well after 11 years of service. Extracted binder sample tests indicated that all binders have become progressively harder over time. The control C170 bitumen section of the trial site has hardened more over time than the sections containing PMBs.
The webinar will be presented by Steve Patrick and Dr Robert Urquhart.
There will be question and answer opportunities during the session.
Steve Patrick is a Senior Technology Leader at the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO). Steve has worked for NTRO for 20 years and has worked in roles in the Data Collection, Heavy Vehicles and Bituminous Surfacings Groups. His main areas of research have included sprayed sealing practices, bitumen sprayer calibration and related field testing, monitoring of Austroads trial sites at Coober Pedy and Cooma, and preparation of sprayed sealing related guidelines and standards. He has been involved in the ongoing development of the Austroads sprayed seal design method over the past 10 years.
Dr Robert Urquhart is the Discipline Leader of Material Performance at the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO). He has over 25 years of experience in the area of bituminous binders which has included conducting bituminous product formulation and production plant support at BP Bitumen (1997-2010) and conducting research at NTRO into the properties of bituminous binders and their performance in asphalt and sprayed seals (2010–present). Robert is an active member of Australian Standard committee CH-025 ‘Bitumen and related products for roadmaking’ which updates standards and test methods associated with bituminous materials. He has also updated several different Austroads PMB test methods over the past 10 years.
No charge but registration is essential. Can’t make the live session? Register and we’ll send you a link to the recording.