A general overview on recent activities of the Technical Committee
"Performance of Bituminous Materials" TC 152-PBM of
the International Union of Testing and Research Laboratories of
Materials and Structures (RILEM) is given, including a state of
the art study on testing and appraisal of polymer modified road
bitumens. All activities are within the framework of performance
related mixture design and part of a basic general testing methodology.
Results of three large interlaboratory tests on binder rheology
and both design and repeated mechanical loading of mixtures are
presented, showing general agreements and suggesting advanced
methods to be implemented in the near future. The tests provided
new information in addition to already known principles in the
field of bitumen and bituminous materials testing methods. This
opens the way for further developments to obtain better performance
related standards and more durable roads.