Project For Developing Performance Related Bitumen Standards in Europe, Evaluation of Test Methods to Characterise Bituminous Binders

摘要

The paper presents the European industry approach for developing a future specification system for bituminous binders, based on performance related standards: principles to respect, objectives to aim at, and process to follow. The system under development should be suitable throughout Europe, for all types of climatic conditions, traffic and pavement applications and applicable to all categories of binders: conventional, special and modified bitumens. The binders should be evaluated on a fair and comparable basis; the appropriate binder should easily be selected for an application; the binder should be applied with confidence; the system should remain simple, practical and affordable in cost and time. A four-step sequential process is followed for building the system. More than 15 different test methods for measuring the 5 most important binder properties have been recommended on. Eurobitume (the organisation for the European bitumen manufacturers) has taken a lead in the European project by developing the bitumen industry's positions on measurement methods and framework for specification system.