Date: Monday, 10 August 2026
Location: Online, 1:00 – 2:00pm AEST
Organiser: Austroads
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This webinar presents the outcomes of Austroads Project APT1975, which conducted research to develop a new Austroads test method for evaluating the fatigue cracking performance of aged bitumen. The test method was developed for road agencies to select durable binders for constructing sprayed seal surfacings.
The development work included an extensive literature review of international fatigue cracking tests to identify suitable dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. The most promising tests identified in the literature review were then conducted on a wide range of binders that were subjected to asphalt fatigue tests. This enabled selection of a reference binder test that showed the best correlation with asphalt fatigue life results.
The DSR time-sweep test was identified as a suitable reference binder test and was used to assess the fatigue cracking performance of bitumen samples after they were aged in a laboratory pressure ageing vessel (PAV) for up to 72 hours. The bitumen samples were then subjected to other DSR tests that could be performed in a shorter time than time-sweep tests, in order to identify a simple test that could be used instead of time-sweep tests which are time-consuming and complex.
The new Austroads test involves PAV ageing a 1 mm bitumen film for 72 hours and then measuring the complex modulus (G*) of the aged bitumen sample at 15°C using a test frequency of 10 Hz.
This webinar is presented by Young Choi and Robert Busuttil.
There will be question and answer opportunities at the end of the session.
No charge, but registration is essential. Can’t make the live session? Register and you’ll receive a link to the recording. Register now.
Young Choi is a Principal Engineer at the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO). Over the past 20 years, Young has been contributing to numerous Austroads research projects on bituminous binders including the development of Australian performance based tests and specifications for binders, long-term ageing tests for sprayed seal binders and crumbed rubber binders. He has been involved in the preparation of over 25 published Austroads technical/research reports on these topics.
Robert Busuttil is the Specialist Engineer, Pavement Surfacing Technology at the Department of Transport and Planning Victoria. He is currently Chair of the Austroads – Bituminous Surfacings Technical Group (BSTG) and Chair of Standards Australia CH-025 committee. Robert is the Project Manager for this project. He has worked in the past as a technical expert for DIT SA, NZTA and AfPA.