Application of ABCD method for analysis of low-temperature properties of aged ordinary and modified bitumens

The composition and properties of road binders play an important role in ensuring long repair periods of road surfaces during their operation at low temperatures. However, testing of samples of asphalt concrete is associated with significant technical difficulties. Therefore, introduction of new method - the ABCD method- for determining cracking temperature of road binders into practice is of particular interest for Russian road industry. The paper considers features of low-temperature behavior of ordinary and modified cememnting binderas of various compositions. At the same time, main raw material component for all the studied binders. The paper defines low-temperature indicators for RTFOT-aged: bitumen, as well as polymer-bitumen binders of two grades PmB 40 and PmB 60. It shows that the ABCD methodology makes it possible to classify binders objectively and promptly according to the effectiveness of their application even without preliminary study of the initial parameters. With the use of the ABCD device the study confirms well-known fact about the feasibility of modifying oxidized bitumen petroleum for road building using styrene-butadiene thermoplastics.