A Review: Use of Rheologyin Analysing the Properties of Bitumen

During the past few decades, rheology is being used enormously for the purpose of classification and evaluation of bituminous binders in relation to its performance properties. By learning about rheological properties of bitumen we get to know about bitumen behaviour better under distinguish thermal and mechanical conditions. This study aims at the use of rheological properties in analysing and evaluating properties of bitumen such as fatigue resistance, rutting resistance, ageing etc. The fatigue and rutting behaviour, which are the two pavement distress modes, are analysed using output parameters of Oscillatory Rheology using DSR Testing and the limitations of these parameters are also studied. Ageing of bitumen is using rheological properties is such as complex shear modulus and phase angle, as ageing causes certain modifications in the colloidal structure of bitumen and also in asphaltenes and maltenes fractions. The difference in rheological properties of neat bitumen and PMB bitumen due to ageing is also studied. Also comparisons are made between complex shear modulus and physical test results (penetration and softening point) of Bitumen claiming lower the penetration, and higher the complex shear modulus, harder the bitumen.