Development and application of asphalt binder relaxation test in different dynamic shear rheometers

In this study, a novel relaxation test is proposed to evaluate asphalt binder low temperature properties using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) with parallel plates of 4 mm in diameter. Three rheometers from three different manufacturers are used to analyze seven asphalt binders. Different material parameters are derived which are useful to evaluate and discriminate different asphalt binders. Test results of all three instruments from different manufacturers are judged identical. Finally, results are compared to results from low temperature tests using a Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) and a linear correlation is identified for the characteristic m-value from BBR testing.

Automated summary

A novel relaxation test using a DSR is proposed to evaluate asphalt binder low temperature properties. Different rheometers from different manufacturers are used to analyze seven asphalt binders, and different material parameters are derived to evaluate and discriminate the binders. The test results of the three instruments are found to be identical. Results are compared to BBR testing and a linear correlation for the BBR characteristic m-value is identified.