An investigation was undertaken to evaluate permanent deformation and fatigue characteristics of polymer modified asphaltic mixes. The investigation included a laboratory testing program and a field evaluation of performance using an accelerated loading facility (ALF). Binders evaluated included the polymer types commonIy used in Australia for hot mix applications. Mix testing included wheel tracking at 60°C to examine permanent deformation and beam testing for fatigue characterisation.

Results of ALF traffickmg shows the permanent deformation of the polymer modified mixes is lower than conventional mixes both in magnitude and in rate of deformation. Laboratory wheel tracking is shown to correlate weII with ALF results. Compaction has a large influence on both fatigue and elastic properties of asphalt mixes. Using the Shell fatigue relation as an indicator of field fatigue performance of bituminous mixes, relative fatigue multipliers for the various polymer modified binders were estimated. Finally binder parameters which best correlate with permanent deformation and fatigue properties are discussed.