From requirement-related to performance-related specifications

The awareness of the Performance-related Specifications importance has nationally and internationally widespread in the last few years, but the actual employment of these needs has not. Hence, most of the national Specifications are still Requirement-related without taking into account the pavement serviceability life. This paper proposes the use of new procedures and techniques for the surfacings characterization on the basis of the Performance-related procedures already employed in the Italian Specifications. In particular, Gyratory Compactor, ITSM, ITFT, Shear Bond Test and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) techniques are suggested for assessing respectively asphalt volumetric mix-design properties, asphalt fatigue fracture and dynamic properties, surfacings bonding properties and binder thermal properties. The obtained results provided also valuable indications for the development of new specifications and Performance-related design procedures.