ABSTRACT
The main mechanical p r o p e r t i e s of a bituminous mixture which c h a r a c t e r i z e i t f o r the purpose of use i n road pavement, are : - workabi 1 i t y ; - compactabi 1 i t y ; - r e s i s t a n c e to permanent deformation; - r e s i s t a n c e to f a t i g u e c r a c k i n g ; - r e s i s t a n c e to c r a c k i n g at low temperatures; - d u r a b i l i t y ( r e s i s t a n c e to ageing, s t r i p p i n g and e r o s i o n ) . The p r i n c i p a l d i f f i c u l t i e s f a c i n g a f o r m u l a t i o n study c o n s i s t i n the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of a s a t i s f a c t o r y compromise between the c o n t r a s t i n g requirements which are needed to s a t i s f y the p r o p e r t i e s l i s t e d above; f o r example, r e s i s t a n c e to permanent deformation on the one hand and r e s i s t a n c e to c r a c k i n g on the other.
