Introduction to Asphalt Rheology

Unlike most civil engineering materials, such as steel or portland cement concrete, the mechanical properties of asphalt binders and mixtures are dependent upon several factors including aging and conditioning time, loading time and temperature, and stress level. It is necessary to have a basic understanding of the effects of these factors on mechanical properties of asphalt materials and pavement performance in order to fully understand the specifications for asphalt materials. During this webinar, important fundamental mechanical properties such as creep compliance, dynamic modulus, phase angle, and fracture properties will be discussed. Their role in determining pavement performance and the manner in which they are affected by the factors described above will be demonstrated.