• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.3 no.2 s.8
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• pp.91-102
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• 2001

On the basis of several experiments peformed, Bahia et al. (1998) concluded that the current Superpave PG-grading system failed to characterize grading specification of fill modified binders. This conclusion motivates us to investigate the correct grating system suited for modified asphalt binders. The main concept of this development is originated from the relationship between rut depth and binder properties at high temperatures. A new grading system for modified asphalt binders suggested here somewhat resembles to the unmodified binder grading one developed by Huh et al. (2000). Thus, this investigation will provide a unified single theoretical equation of high temperature grading that can apply both to modified and unmodified binders, and will check its effectiveness with the laboratory and the field rut data reported by independent studies. Successful results observed may allow to construction of a correct grading system in the near future.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.7 no.1 s.23
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• pp.63-71
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• 2005

Asphalt binder grading is to specify quality of asphalt binders relating to pavement performance in orderly manner, and provides the necessary information in selecting the appropriate asphalt binder for the hot mix design. For this purpose, United States has developed the PG-grading in 1995 and is implementing in practice. Recently, this American PG-grading system has been accepted as the domestic binder grading specification. However, the Asian (including Japan and China) and the most European countries are still use the traditional penetration and viscosity specification. The goal of this study lies in analysing the American PG-grading for its justification. As the result, the serious errors are found, and thus, to eliminate the errors, the more precise binder grading equation is introduced, Credibility of this study is checked by predicting the literature rut data with the equations mentioned. The prediction result are validating the claimes made in this study.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.8 no.4 s.30
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• pp.125-133
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• 2006

In this study, the Korean Industrial Standard(KS) penetration grade system was examined to evaluate its statistical validity. It was found from this limited study that the system has no gap between each grade, the binder falling out of limit trespasses into other binder grade. Therefore, many products can have similar property level with an adjacent grade even though the mean value is within the specification limit. It was also found out that the equal range setup of each grade, such as 20 for 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, has no statistical foundation. Since KS penetration grade is defined without gap between each grade, the producer must maintain the coefficient of variation below the level by the ASTM system to satisfy the normal quality control limit of products. Due to its lack of a gap between grades, higher percentage of products will be duplicated even if the mean is at the median of the specification limits due to material's quality uncertainty. Especially if the mean moves toward the upper limit, a half or more of the binder grade will be overlapped with the upper binder grade. Therefore, KS penetration specification should be immediately modified by statistically valid methodologies.