Comparison of the visco-elastic properties of bituminous binders assessed by the elastometer and the dynamic shear rheometer

The Elastometer and the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) are test devices that are used for binder characterisation in Australia and overseas. An inter-device correlation study was conducted to gain an understanding of the relationship between Elastometer and DSR test results. A range of bituminous binders (including bitumens and polymer modified binders (PMBs)) were tested using the two devices. The test results obtained using each device were then used to calculate a number of fundamental binder rheological properties using the Kelvin-Voigt (KV) model. Good correlations were found between the fundamental rheological properties obtained using both types of equipment. This allowed the parameters measured by one test to be expressed in terms of the other test. The study suggested that the DSR could be used as a possible alternative to the Elastometer if in the future it is necessary to characterise the properties of PMBs in Australia using a piece of internationally utilised test equipment.