In 1997 Austroads introduced the Provisional Guide for Selection and Design of Asphalt mixes and new test methods for implementation by each State Road Authority in partnership with industry.The Austroads mix design procedures require asphalt performance properties to be measured in addition to the usual volumetric properties. Performance properties are generally more meaningful to pavement design and road assets management personnel and may ultimately provide a link between asphalt performance and pavement damage to facilitate ongoing improvements to asphalt mixes. The process of implementation in Victoria began by evaluating and ranking the laboratory performance of a whole range of proven mixes designed by the Marshall Method. VicRoads standard asphalt mixes regularly supplied by five metropolitan asphalt plants covering several aggregate types and binders were evaluated and given a ranking. Variations in mix air voids under gyratory compaction were determined along with measurement of indirect tensile modulus, flexural modulus, fatigue life, moisture sensitivity, deformation, and particle loss. Suitable test limits need to be developed to enable laboratory performance tests to be used as a means of providing assurance that, prior to general use, a new asphalt mix is capable of delivering equal or improved performance than its predecessor.(a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. 0612AR242E.
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