The Superpave PG asphalt performance test standards are designed to evaluate the road performance characteristics of asphalt in each of these phases to determine its performance grade (PG). For instance:
Asphalt rheological tests across the three phases help establish a rheological performance curve.
Phase 1 (unaged) asphalt undergoes viscosity and flash point tests to ensure sufficient flow for pumping and mixing while preventing combustion.
Phase 3 (long-term aging) tests focus on high- and low-temperature rheological performance, assessing resistance to rutting, fatigue cracking, and low-temperature cracking.
Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) in Long-Term Aging
The Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) plays a critical role in Phase 3, simulating asphalt aging caused by climatic changes and traffic loads over years. In just a few dozen hours, PAV replicates years of asphalt aging. Technically, PAV is not a "test" instrument but rather a pre-treatment tool for material testing.
The PAV controls and records environmental conditions, specifically pressure and temperature, during the aging process. The accompanying Vacuum Degassing Oven (VDO) removes residual air from samples post-aging. Neither device collects changes in asphalt sample indicators—they strictly regulate environmental conditions.
Since PAV is a crucial yet simple tool in the Superpave PG grading test, its localization development has been a fundamental part of equipment advancement.
Features
Linked Temperature-Pressure Control
During PAV aging, pressure (2.1±0.1MPa) is sourced from external high-pressure gas cylinders and regulated to maintain aging conditions.
Temperature is controlled via sidewall and bottom heating films.
Since higher gas pressure raises temperature, pressure and temperature are monitored simultaneously.
PID control ensures pressure and temperature remain within standard tolerances throughout the aging process.
Software automatically records time deviations beyond standard tolerances, verifying test data validity.
Test data can be exported via USB for Excel-based analysis or direct printing.
Customizable Temperature Control
Large color touchscreen interface with graphical software for parameter configuration, calibration, monitoring, and data browsing.
Fully automated aging process after parameters are set.
Customized Testing & Feature Expansion
Although PG grading tests remain based on fundamental principles, parameters and operational details continue to evolve. Some recent refinements include:
Using the Universal Simple Aging Test (USAT) at 2.10MPa and 100°C with tray molds, applicable to RTFOT short-term aging for small samples of field-extracted asphalt or emulsion residue, with 8-hour accelerated aging before DSR testing on 4mm parallel plates.
Raising test temperatures to 120°C to simulate 20-year service life aging.
Extending test duration to 40 hours, measuring the Tc value in BBR tests of aged asphalt.
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