This paper outlines the various factors in Australia that have emphasised an increasing need for laboratories to be equipped with accurate and repeatable equipment to manufacture asphalt sample, and to measure their engineering properties. The organisational structure and co-operative approach, that has enabled good progress to be made with the development of the necessary equipment, procedures and standards, are described. Selection criteria and desirable characteristics of testing equipment are outlined, and the capabilities and limitations of the various options discussed. A range of Australian developed equipment is described, which makes good use of current technology to achieve an "affordable" solution without sacrificing performance. Some practical applications of the equipment during the first 3 years of operation are presented, together with an inital evaluation of its performance. (A)
Abstract