Page 1
Performance Grade (Superpave) tests:1 Rotational Viscometer (Brookfield) test
2 Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) test
3 Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) test
4 Direct Tension (DT) test
5 Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) test
6 Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) test
7 Flash Point test
Characterization of Asphalt Binder
Page 2
Superpave Asphalt Binder Specification
Superpave=Superior Performing Asphalt Pavement
Page 3
New Superpave Binder Specifications
Intended to improve pavement performance by
reducing the potential to:
Permanent deformation
Fatigue cracking
Low-temperature cracking
Excessive aging from volatilization
Pumping and handling
Page 4
Superpave Asphalt Binder Specification
PG 64-22
PerformanceGrade
Average 7-daymax pavementdesign temp
Min pavementdesign temp
Grading system and selection based primarily on climate
(NHI, 2002)
Page 5
Pavement Temperatures are Calculated
• Calculated by Superpave software
• High temperature
– 20 mm below the surface of mixture
• Low temperature
– at surface of mixture
Pave temp = f (air temp, depth, latitude)
www.fhwa.gov/pavement/ltpp/ltppbind.htm
Page 6
PG Specification Tests
• Rheology• Fundamental properties related to HMA
performance
• Test parameters• Selected to represent in-service & construction
temperatures
• Asphalt binder conditioning• Environmental factors
• Short and long term aging
Page 7
Superpave Specification (Cont’d)
• Superpave specification attempts to measure
properties that are directly related to pavement
field performance
Handling
Pump
Permanent
Deformation
Fatigue
Cracking
Thermal
Cracking
Flow
Rutting
Structural Cracking
Low Temp Cracking
Rotational Viscometer
Dynamic Shear Rheometer
Bending Beam Rheometer
Direct Tension Tester
TEST EQUIPMENTPERFORMANCE PROPERTY
Page 8
Superpave Binder Equipment
Fatigue
CrackingRutting
PAV - aging
RTFO - aging No aging
Pavement Age
Construction
[RV][DSR]
Low Temp
Cracking
[BBR]
[DTT]
Page 9
Superpave Binder Equipment
Pavement Temperature, C
- 20 20 60 135
DTT
BBR
DSR
RV
Page 11
Rotational Viscometer
spindle
torque
sample
sample
chamber
(Brookfield Viscosity)
http://www.pavementinteractive.org/article/rotational-
viscometer/
Page 12
Construction Asphalt Binder
Properties
• Concentric cylinder rheometer• Used to insure a minimum workability
(pumpability) at typical mixing temperature
• Maximum viscosity 3kPa at 135oC
Construction
[RV]
Page 13
RV
DSR
BBR
Rutting
Page 14
Short Term Aging
• Simulates stiffening of asphalt binder
during storage, mixing, and lay down
• Function of:
• Oxidation hardening
• Asphalt binder reacts with oxygen
• Volatilization of specific components
• Simulated using rolling thin film oven
(RTFO)
Page 15
Dynamic Shear Rheometer
Applied Stress
Fixed Plate
Asphalt
Oscillating
Plate
B CA
Position of
Oscillating Plate
A
B
A
C
A
Time
1 cycle
Page 16
Dynamic Shear Rheometer
height (h)
radius (r)
torque (T)
deflection angle ()
Page 17
DSR
http://www.pavementinteractive.org
/article/dynamic-shear-rheometer/
Page 18
Elastic vs. Viscous Behaviors
time
time
Elastic: = 0 deg Viscous: = 90 deg
max
max
max max
time lag = t
Applied
Shear
Stress
Resulting
Shear
Strain
Page 19
Viscoelastic: 0 < < 90 o
Resulting
Shear
Strain
Applied
ShearStress
max
tt = time lag
time
time
max
G* = max
max
Page 21
Rutting
• High in-service temperature
• Desert climates
• Summer temperatures
• Sustained loads
• Slow moving trucks
• Intersections
Viscous Liquid
Function of warm
weather and traffic
Page 22
Rutting
Superpave DSR test requirements:
G*/sin on unaged (original) asphalt binder > 1.00 kPa
G*/sin on RTFO aged asphalt binder > 2.20 kPa
We want a stiff, elastic asphalt binder
to resist rutting (for the early part of the
service life)
(By increasing G* or decreasing )
Page 23
RV
DSR
BBR
Fatigue
Page 24
Fatigue Cracking
Function of repeated traffic loads over time
(in wheel paths)
Page 25
DSR
• Aged PG asphalt binder
• Since long term performance
problem, include:
• Short term aging
• Long term aging
• Determine DSR parameters using
8 mm plate and intermediate test
temperature
Fatigue
Cracking
[DSR]
Page 26
Long Term Aging
• Simulates aging of an PG asphalt binder for 7
to 10 years
• Starts with RTFO aged PG asphalt binder
– Additional aging with Pressure Aging Vessel
(PAV)
Page 27
PAV Components
Bottom of
pressure
aging
vessel
Rack of individual
pans
(50g of asphalt / pan)
Vessel Lid Components
Page 28
PAV Testing
• After RTFO aging
– 50 gram sample/pan aged for 20 hours in PAV
• Pressure of 2,070 kPa (300 psi)
• Test temp 90, 100 or 110o C
Page 29
http://www.pavementinteractive.org
/article/pressure-aging-vessel/
Page 30
Equipment Examples
www.prentex.com
Page 31
Fatigue Cracking
• G* (sin ) on RTFO and PAV aged asphalt
binder
• The parameter addresses the later part of the
fatigue life
• Value must be < 5,000 kPa
We want a soft elastic asphalt binder to
sustain many loads without cracking
(By decreasing G* or decreasing )
Page 32
RVDSR
BBR
Thermal
Cracking
Pavement Temperature, C
- 20 20 60 135
DTT
BBR
DSR
RV
DTT
Page 33
Low Temperature Behavior
• Low Temperature
• Cold climates
• Winter
• Rapid Loads
• Fast moving trucks
Elastic Solid
Page 34
Thermal Cracking
Courtesy of FHWA
Page 35
Low Temperature
• Two tests
• Direct tension
• Strength
• Bending beam
• Stiffness
Low Temp
Cracking
[BBR]
[DTT]
Page 36
Bending Beam Rheometer
aluminum mold
plastic strips
Rubber O-rings
127 mm
6.35 mm
12.7 mm
asphalt beam
Page 38
Bending Beam Rheometer
Fluid Bath
DeflectionTransducer
Load Cell
Asphalt Beam
Air Bearing
Loading
Frame
Supports
Control andData Acquisition
Thermometer
Page 39
http://www.pavementinteractive.org/arti
cle/bending-beam-rheometer/
Page 40
Bending Beam Rheometer
Page 41
RVDSR
BBR
Thermal
Cracking
Pavement Temperature, C
- 20 20 60 135
DTT
BBR
DSR
RV
DTT
Page 42
Direct Tension Tester
L
Load
L+ L
L
failure strain ( f) =
effective length (L )
change in length ( L)
eL
e
f
stress
strain
f
http://www.pavementinteractive.org/article/direct-tension-tester/
Page 43
PG 46 PG 52 PG 58 PG 64 PG 70 PG 76 PG 82
(Rotational Viscosity) RV
90 90 100 100 100 (110) 100 (110) 110 (110)
(Flash Point) FP
46 52 58 64 70 76 82
46 52 58 64 70 76 82
(ROLLING THIN FILM OVEN) RTFO Mass Loss < 1.00 %
(Direct Tension) DT
(Bending Beam Rheometer) BBR Physical Hardening
28
-34 -40 -46 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -46 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -10 -16 -22
-28 -34
Avg 7-day Max, oC
1-day Min, oC
(PRESSURE AGING VESSEL) PAV
ORIGINAL
> 1.00 kPa
< 5000 kPa
> 2.20 kPa
S < 300 MPa m > 0.300
Report Value
> 1.00 %
20 Hours, 2.07 MPa
10 7 4 25 22 19 16 13 10 7 25 22 19 16 13 31 28 25 22 19 16 34 31 28 25 22 19 37 34 31 28 25 40 37 34 31
(Dynamic Shear Rheometer) DSR G* sin
( Bending Beam Rheometer) BBR “S” Stiffness & “m”- value
-24 -30 -36 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 0 -6 -12 -
18 -24
-24 -30 -36 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 0 -6 -12
-18 -24
Superpave Binder Specifications
(Dynamic Shear Rheometer) DSR G*/sin
(Dynamic Shear Rheometer) DSR G*/sin
< 3 Pa.s @ 135 oC
> 230 oC
CEC