This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D8360 − 22

Standard Test Method for

Determination of Rutting Tolerance Index of Asphalt Mixture
Using the Ideal Rutting Test1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8360; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This test method covers the procedures for preparing, 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
testing, and measuring asphalt mixture rutting resistance at D8 Terminology Relating to Materials for Roads and Pave-
high temperatures using cylindrical laboratory-prepared as- ments
phalt mix samples or pavement cores. The test method de- D979/D979M Practice for Sampling Bituminous Paving
scribes the determination of the rutting tolerance index, Mixtures
RTIndex, and other parameters determined from the load- D3203/D3203M Test Method for Percent Air Voids in Com-
displacement curve. These parameters can be used to evaluate pacted Asphalt Mixtures
the resistance of asphalt mixtures to rutting. D3666 Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agen-
cies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as D6925 Test Method for Preparation and Determination of
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this the Relative Density of Asphalt Mix Specimens by Means
standard. of the Superpave Gyratory Compactor
1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes D6926 Practice for Preparation of Asphalt Mixture Speci-
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes mens Using Marshall Apparatus
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered D6927 Test Method for Marshall Stability and Flow of
as requirements of the standard. Asphalt Mixtures
2.2 AASHTO Standards:3
1.4 The within-laboratory repeatability standard deviation
R 30 Practice for Mixture Conditioning of Hot Mix Asphalt
of rutting tolerance index has been determined to be 2.42,
(HMA)
based on two labs, 30 test replicates, and ten different samples.
T 324 Standard Method of Test for Hamburg Wheel-Track
The between-laboratory reproducibility of this test method is
Testing of Compacted Asphalt Mixtures
being determined and will be available on or before December
T 340 Standard Method of Test for Determining Rutting
31, 2026. Therefore, this standard should not be used for
Susceptibility of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Using the
acceptance or rejection of a material for purchasing purpose.
Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA)
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the T 378 Standard Method of Test for Determining the Dy-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the namic Modulus and Flow Number for Asphalt Mixtures
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- Using the Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT)
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- TP 116 Standard Method of Test for Rutting Resistance of
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Asphalt Mixtures Using Incremental Repeated Load Per-
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor- manent Deformation (iRLPD)
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 3. Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical standard, refer to Terminology D8.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.26 on the ASTM website.
3
Fundamental/Mechanistic Tests. Available from American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published October 2022. DOI: 10.1520/ Officials (AASHTO), 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Suite 249, Washington, DC 20001,
D8360-22. http://www.transportation.org.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 D8360 − 22
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: 6. Apparatus
3.2.1 RTIndex, n—rutting tolerance index, the value used to 6.1 Test Apparatus—An IRT test apparatus consists of an
evaluate mixture resistance to rutting. axial loading device, a load cell, one upper loading strip and
3.2.2 Pmax, n—peak load (kN). See 10.3. lower supporting cradle, specimen deformation measurement
devices, and a data acquisition system. Alternatively, the load
3.2.3 τf, n—shear strength (MPa).
cell, top loading strip and lower supporting cradle, specimen
deformation measurement devices, data acquisition system, or
4. Summary of Test Method
combinations thereof can be integrated into a test fixture.
4.1 The ideal rutting testing is conducted through the 6.1.1 Axial Loading Device—The loading apparatus shall be
application of a monotonic compressive load along a vertical capable of delivering loading in compression with a capacity of
diametral plane of a cylindrical specimen of asphalt concrete at least 15 kN. It shall be capable of maintaining an average
centered in the testing apparatus. The load is applied such that constant deformation rate of 50 6 2.0 mm/min. A hydraulic, an
an average constant load-line displacement (LLD) rate of 50.0 electromechanical, screw-driven, or a pneumatic loading frame
6 2.0 mm/min is obtained and maintained for the duration of may be used if it can maintain a displacement rate required to
the test. Both the load and LLD are measured during the entire induce the average constant deformation rate of 50 6 2.0
duration of the test and are used to calculate the RTIndex. mm/min.
4.2 This test procedure considers both elastic/viscoelastic 6.1.2 Load Cell—The load cell shall have a readability of
properties of the asphalt mix and its strain-hardening charac- 10 N and a capacity of at least 15 kN.
teristics and is developed based on shear strength principle.4 6.1.3 Upper Loading Strip and Lower Supporting Cradle—
Steel loading and supporting cradle with a concave surface
5. Significance and Use having a radius of curvature equal to the nominal radius of the
test specimen. For specimens with a nominal diameter of 150
5.1 The ideal rutting test (IRT) is used to determine asphalt 6 2 mm, the upper loading strip shall be 19.05 6 0.3 mm wide
mixture rutting resistance at high temperature in the range of and the lower supporting cradle shall be as depicted in Fig. 1.
50 6 15 °C, depending on local climate. The specimens are The length of the loading strips shall exceed the thickness of
readily obtained from Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) the specimen by at least 5 mm. The outer edges of the bottom
compacted cylinders with a diameter of 150 6 2 mm, with no supporting cradle shall incorporate a fillet (Fig. 1) to remove
cutting, gluing, drilling, or instrumentation required. Similarly, sharp edges.
field cores with a diameter of 150 6 2 mm can be tested to 6.1.3.1 Option A—The loading strip and cradle can be part
measure rutting resistance of in-place asphalt mixtures. of a test fixture, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, in which the
NOTE 1—Field cores may need cutting to a right thickness ranging from lower supporting cradle is mounted on a base having two
38 mm to 95 mm. This test standard is not applicable to the specimens perpendicular guide rods or posts extending upward. The upper
with a diameter other than 150 6 2 mm, regardless of laboratory- loading strip shall be clean and freely sliding on the posts.
compacted specimens or field cores. Guide sleeves in the upper segment of the test fixture shall
5.2 The RTIndex of an asphalt mixture is calculated from the direct the specimen contact strip without appreciable binding
peak load (or shear strength). The RTIndex is a performance or loose motion in the guide rods.
indicator of the rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures contain- 6.1.3.2 Option B—The loading strip and cradle can be part
ing various asphalt binders, asphalt binder modifiers and of a test fixture, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, in which the
additives, aggregate blends, fibers, and recycled materials. lower supporting cradle is mounted on the lower loading strip
Generally, the higher the RTIndex value, the better the rutting of an indirect tensile fixture with two perpendicular guide rods
resistance and consequently the smaller the rut depth in the or posts extending upward. The upper loading strip shall be
field. Users can employ the RTIndex and associated criteria to clean and freely sliding on the posts. Guide sleeves in the upper
identify rutting-prone mixtures during mix design and produc- segment of the test fixture shall direct the specimen contact
tion quality control/assurance. strip without appreciable binding or loose motion in the guide
rods.
NOTE 2—The quality of the results produced by this standard are 6.1.4 Internal Displacement Measuring Device—The dis-
dependent on the competence of the personnel performing the procedure
and the capability, calibration, and maintenance of the equipment used. placement measurement acquisition system shall have a read-
Agencies that meet the criteria of Specification D3666 are generally ability of 0.01 mm and a range sufficiently large to handle the
considered capable of competent and objective testing, sampling, expected total displacement during the test. The machine
inspection, etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with stroke linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) or other
Specification D3666 alone does not completely ensure reliable results. type of displacement transducer can be used if its resolution is
Reliable results depend on many factors; following the suggestions of
Specification D3666 or some similar acceptable guideline provides a sufficient to meet the requirement. The displacement data
means of evaluating and controlling some of those factors. measured during the test may need to be corrected for system
compliance through standardizing the test system.
6.1.5 External Displacement Measuring Device—If an in-
4
ternal displacement measuring device does not exist or has
Zhou, F., Crockford, W., Zhang, J., Hu, S., Epps, J., and Sun, L., “Development
of an IDEAL Rutting Test for Asphalt Mixture Design, Quality Control and Quality insufficient precision, one or more external displacement mea-
Assurance,” Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, 2019. suring devices such as LVDTs can be used.

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 D8360 − 22

FIG. 1 Ideal Rutting Test Fixture—Option A

6.1.6 Data Acquisition System—Time, load, and LLD (using 8.2.1 Specimen Size—For the mixes with a nominal maxi-
either internal or external displacement measuring devices) mum aggregate size (NMAS) of 19 mm or smaller, the
data are collected at a minimum of 40 sampling data points per specimens are 150 6 2 mm in diameter by 62 6 1 mm thick.
second to obtain a smooth load-LLD curve. For the mixes with a NMAS of 25 mm or larger, specimens are
6.2 Conditioning Chamber—An environmental chamber or 150 6 2 mm in diameter by 95 6 1 mm thick. Test specimens
water bath capable of maintaining the target high test tempera- are prepared without cutting or trimming and their perimeter
ture 6 1.0 °C for conditioning specimens before testing. surface shall be perpendicular to the top and bottom faces and
not depart by more than 6 mm.
NOTE 3—The target high test temperature generally is in the range of 50 8.2.2 Aging—Laboratory-compacted test specimens shall be
6 15 °C.
short-term aged before the compaction.
6.3 Gyratory Compactor—A gyratory compactor and asso-
ciated equipment for preparing laboratory specimens in accor- NOTE 4—For laboratory-mixed and laboratory-compacted (LMLC)
dance with Test Method D6925 are needed. mixes, loose mixes should be short-term aged for 2 h at compaction
temperatures (AASHTO R 30) before the compaction. For plant-mixed
6.4 Saw—A laboratory saw capable of trimming field cores and laboratory-compacted mixes (PMLC), specimens may be compacted
no less than 38 mm or cutting field cores thicker than 95 mm, after reheating the mix to its compaction temperature
if needed. 8.2.3 Compaction and Air Void Content—Prepare a mini-
6.5 Sample Measurement Device—A caliper accurate to mum of three specimens at the target air void content of 7.0 6
60.1 mm shall be used to measure specimen thickness and 0.5 %.
diameter. NOTE 5—A Superpave Gyratory Compactor according to Test Method
D6925 is preferred for compacting test specimens, but other types of
7. Hazards compactors (such as Marshall hammer according to Practice D6926) are
allowed as long as the required dimensions of the test specimens are met.
7.1 Standard laboratory caution should be exercised when The specimen air voids can be calculated using Test Method D3203/
handling, compacting, and fabricating test specimens and D3203M.
asphalt mixtures.
8.3 Samples Cored from Asphalt Pavements:
8. Sampling, Test Specimens, and Test Units 8.3.1 Roadway cores can be used if pavement layer thick-
ness is greater than 38 mm. Roadway core specimens shall be
8.1 This rutting test may be conducted on laboratory- 150 6 2 mm in diameter, and the core perimeter surface shall
prepared test specimens or field cores. Sampling of the be perpendicular to the top and bottom faces and not depart by
laboratory-prepared specimens shall follow the Practice D979/ more than 6 mm. Trim bottom face of all cores and, if needed,
D979M standard procedure. trim the top face to the same thickness to ensure the cores are
8.2 Laboratory-Compacted Asphalt Mixture Samples: as thick as possible, while neither greater than 95 mm nor less

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 D8360 − 22

FIG. 2 Ideal Rutting Test Fixture—Option B

than 38 mm. Testing specimens at a uniform thickness will NOTE 7—The target high test temperature generally is in the range of 50
reduce test error. The air voids of the core specimens shall be 6 15 °C. One can use the same test temperature as that of the Marshall
stability test (Test Method D6927) or the Hamburg wheel tracking test
determined. (AASHTO T 324) or the asphalt pavement analyzer (AASHTO T 340) or
NOTE 6—Care shall be taken to avoid damage to the cores during the flow number test (AASHTO T 378) or incremental repeated load
handling and transportation prior to testing. A core bit 156 mm in external permanent deformation (iRLPD, AASHTO TP 116). Rutting resistance of
diameter may be needed in order to obtain cores 150 6 2 mm in diameter. asphalt mixtures depends on test temperature. The higher the test
For those cores with air voids different from 7 6 0.5 %, the rutting temperature, the poorer the rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures.
tolerance index at 7 % air voids can be estimated, as detailed in Note 11. NOTE 8—Specimens can be tested in either dry or wet condition and the
test results are not significantly different.
8.4 A minimum of three specimens shall be tested for
LMLC or PMLC specimens. A minimum of three roadway 9.2 Inspect the fixture to ensure that all contact surfaces are
core specimens shall be tested. clean and free of debris and then place the fixture into the load
frame and verify proper setup of displacement measuring
9. Procedure device.
9.1 Precondition test specimens at a preselected target high 9.3 Insert the specimen in the fixture, ensuring the specimen
test temperature 6 1.0 °C for 150 6 10 min in an environ- is centered and making uniform contact on the support.
mental chamber or 45 6 5 min in a water bath in wet condition. Generally, it is sufficient to center the specimen by eye.

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 D8360 − 22
9.4 Apply load to specimen in LLD control at a rate of 50 6 where:
2.0 mm/min. The test may be terminated 5 s after the peak RTIndex@7% = rutting tolerance at 7 % air voids,
load. During the testing, record the time, load, and displace- RTIndex = rutting tolerance index calculated from Eq 2, and
AV = air voids of field core (%).
ment at a minimum sampling rate of 40 data points per second.
10.3 A load versus load-line displacement curve is shown in
9.5 Testing shall be completed in 2 min or less after removal
Fig. 3.
from the environmental chamber or water bath to maintain a
uniform specimen temperature. 11. Report
11.1 The report shall include the following parameters for
10. Calculation or Interpretation of Results each test specimen:
10.1 Shear strength of asphalt mixture is calculated from the 11.1.1 Asphalt mixture type.
measured maximum load, as listed below: 11.1.2 Test temperature, to the nearest 0.1 °C.
11.1.3 Specimen preparation method and aging condition.
P max
τ f 5 0.356 3 (1) 11.1.4 Specimen air voids, to the nearest 0.1 %.
t 3w
11.1.5 Specimen thickness, to the nearest 0.0001 m.
where: 11.1.6 Specimen diameter, to the nearest 0.0001 m.
τf = shear strength (Pa), 11.1.7 Peak load, Pmax, to the nearest 0.1 N.
Pmax = maximum load (N), 11.1.8 Shear strength, τf, to the nearest 1 Pa.
t = specimen thickness (m), and 11.1.9 Rutting tolerance index, RTIndex, to the nearest 0.1.
w = width of upper loading strip (=0.0191 m).
NOTE 9—0.356 is a coefficient transferring maximum load to shear
12. Precision and Bias
strength in Eq 1. 12.1 The within-laboratory repeatability standard deviation
10.2 Rutting tolerance index (RTIndex) is calculated from the of the RTIndex has been determined to be 2.42, based on two
shear strength, as listed below: labs, 30 test replicates, and ten different samples. The between-
laboratory reproducibility of this test method is being deter-
τf
RT Index 5 6.618 3 1025 3 (2) mined and will be available on or before December 31, 2026.
1 Pa
Therefore, this standard should not be used for acceptance or
where: rejection of a material for purchasing purpose.
RTIndex = rutting tolerance index, and 12.2 No information can be presented on the bias of this
τf = shear strength calculated from Eq 1 (Pa). procedure for measuring the rutting tolerance index because no
NOTE 10—1 Pa is a unit cancelation factor and 6.618 × 10−5 is a scale material having an accepted reference value is available.
factor in Eq 2.
NOTE 11—For the field cores having air voids different from 7.0 6 13. Keywords
0.5 %, the RTIndex at 7.0 % air voids can be estimated from Eq 3:
13.1 asphalt mixture rutting resistance; ideal rutting test;
RT Index@7% 5 0.446e 0.1186AV 3 RT Index (3) rutting tolerance index

FIG. 3 Recorded Load (P) versus Load-Line Displacement (l) Curve

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 D8360 − 22
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