Asphalt Binder Testing Capabilities
Asphalt Binder Testing Capabilities
Asphalt Binder Testing Capabilities
See all of our options below.
Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR)
The Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) is a device used to characterize the low temperature properties of asphalt binders. It is measure the stiffness and relaxation properties of asphalt binders at below freezing temperatures. The BBR can also be used for Performance Grading (PG) of asphalt binders. Two AASHTO testing procedures can be conducted using the BBR: (a) AASHTO T 313 “Determining the Flexural Creep Stiffness of Asphalt Binder Using the Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR)” and (b) AASHTO PP 42 “Determination of Low-Temperature Performance Grade (PG) of Asphalt Binders.”
Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR)
The Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) is an asphalt binder testing device that can provide insights related to behavior of asphalt binders at intermediate and high temperatures (i.e., ranging from 10 °C to 80 °C). The device can also be used to Performance Grade (PG) asphalt binders at high temperatures according to AASHTO T 315 “Determining the Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binder Using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR).” Other asphalt binder tests, such as the Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS), can be conducted using the DSR.
Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO)
The Rolling Thin-Film Oven (RTFO) apparatus can be used to simulate short-term aging of asphalt binders according to AASHTO T240 “Effect of Heat and Air on a Moving Film of Asphalt (Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test).” Using the RTFO, temperatures that asphalt binders experience during plant production of asphalt mixtures are simulated. A quantitative measure for the volatile compounds lost during the short-term aging process is also determined.
Pressure Aging Vessel
The Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) is used to simulate long-term aging of asphalt binders. It simulates seven to 10 years of asphalt binder aging through subjecting samples to high pressure and temperature ranges. This test is typically conducted on samples aged using the Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTOF) and according to AASHTO R 28 “Accelerated Aging of Asphalt Binder Using a Pressurized Aging Vessel (PAV).” The PAV provides valuable information on how an asphalt binder may age and stiffen throughout its life in services.