EVALUATION OF ELASTOMER MODIFIED BITUMENS USING SHRP BINDER SPECIFICATIONS

The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) has developed test methods and specifications that are intended to more accurately predict field behavior of all binders, regardless of how they are manufactured. In this study, the binder test methods developed by SHRP were used to evaluate elastomer modified bitumens and grade them according to their expected performance in rutting and thermal cracking. A plastomer modified bitumen and some partially air blown bitumens were also evaluated and graded. Some of these binders were then compared in a field trial under specific traffic and climatic conditions.