Hot-mix asphalt testing for the South African pavement design method

Abstract

As part of the revision of the South African Pavement Design Method (SAPDM), a large scale field and laboratory study into the material response of asphalt mixtures will be undertaken. A first step in this process is to review the state-of-the art of local and international hot-mix asphalt (HMA) test methods and modify or adapt them to suit South African road pavement conditions. This paper presents various laboratory HMA test protocols developed as part of the project to revise SAPDM. Large scale laboratory testing was conducted on a standard South Africa asphalt mix with 60/70 penetration grade binder to develop the test protocols. The protocol development covers bituminous binder tests, asphalt mix preparation and compaction, as well as advanced laboratory tests performed on the asphalt mix. The required modifications to existing protocols are discussed in this paper and some potential challenges with the adoption of the protocols in the SAPDM are addressed.