PERFORMANCE-BASED CHARACTERIZATION OF ARAB ASPHALT

Asphalt binders are elasto-visco-elastic materials where temperature a nd rate of load application hare a great influence on their behaviour. They are classified as rheological materials since their stress-strai n response is both time and temperature dependent. Asphalt binder cons istency and hence ability to sustain and hold its fundamental cementin g mechanism changes depending on temperature. In this research, the ph ysical and rheological properties of the locally produced Arab asphalt binders and the performance requirements of the Gulf countries enviro nmental conditions were determined. The designed experiments and the c ollected data clearly indicated that the locally produced asphalt bind ers can be used without modification in areas where the maximum paveme nt temperature does not exceed 64 degrees C. Temperature zoning indica ted that more than 50% of the Gulf countries areas experience a maximu m pavement temperature of 76 degrees C. Therefore, asphalt binder modi fication is required to meet Gulf countries' performance requirements. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.