Mechanical Test Procedures for Bituminous Mixtures

In recent years the increasing traffic volumes on the world’s highways have indicated
shortcomings in the existing empirical procedures that are used to assess road building
materials. As a result, new fundamental performance based test procedures have been
developed that are currently being considered for acceptance in defining material
specification codes of practise. In Ireland, to date, it has only been possible to observe and
monitor these developments. The procedures will shortly be introduced by the Central
European Standards Organisation (CEN) and will affect Irish material suppliers, design
engineers in local authorities and consulting engineers.