This document specifies a test method to assess the durability of adhesion in base and binder course asphalt mixtures. The Saturation Ageing Tensile Stiffness (SATS) conditioning regime is used to age the specimens in the presence of water. A comparative test for assessing their performance before and after conditioning is also conducted.
The applicability of this test method is limited to bituminous specimens with consistent air voids contents and hard binder, in particular, to asphalt concrete mixtures with a binder content between 3,5 % and 5,5 %, air voids contents between 6 % and 10 % and 10/20 pen hard paving grade bitumen.
The test is intended to be used as a screening test for the assessment of a combination of aggregate, filler and additives with respect to the retained adhesion properties after simulated ageing in a moist atmosphere for lean/stiff base and binder course mixtures.