BACKGROUND
The demand for asphalt emulsions has increased due to the widespread adoption of surface treatments for pavement preservation. Highway agencies and industry are moving toward the development and implementation of performance specifications for chip seal emulsions and other emulsion-based asphalt surface treatments. The key challenge in the development of these specifications is the identification of appropriate material performance properties, test methods, and acceptance criteria that reliably predict the long-term performance of surface treatments or their potential for failure. Research is needed to develop a national performance-related material specification for emulsified asphalt binder similar to the Superpave asphalt binder specification for use by state departments of transportation (DOTs) and local agencies.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to develop a national performance-related material specification for emulsified asphalt binder for use with chip seals and microsurfacing/slurry seals that (a) is similar in concept and format to AASHTO Standard Specifications M 320, Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder, and M 332, Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder Using Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) Test; (b) is calibrated and validated with performance data from field test sections; (c) uses readily available testing equipment (i.e., Superpave test equipment); and (d) reflects varying climatic and traffic conditions.
STATUS
Phase III is in progress.
