Asphalt binder is the glue that holds most roadway infrastructures together and by extension has a critical societal and economic impact. The production and use of asphalt binders around the world is a multibillion dollar industry funded primarily by public funds. A challenge faced by this industry is to produce binders with consistent and targeted properties even though the primary raw material, crude oil, constantly changes over time and is variable between sources. This challenge is exacerbated by the increasing demand to use more recycled asphalt binder from old roadways and/or extend it using other sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Overcoming this challenge requires an integration of theoretical and experimental tools from various disciplines, such as materials science and mechanics.

This Special Issue encourages submissions of recent work that furthers an understanding of the relationship between the chemical composition of the asphalt binder, its microstructure and engineering properties. This Special Issue also lays out an inter-disciplinary framework that not only aims to advance specific areas of science and engineering but also to help advance the state of practice in pavement materials engineering. Review articles which describe the current state of the art are also encouraged.

● Innovative methods for characterization of sustainable pavement materials

● The ageing and recycling of asphalt materials

● Multi-scale and multi-physics characterization of asphalt concrete and pavement

● Mechanistic modeling of fatigue cracking and the durability of pavement materials

● Self-healing properties of asphalt materials

● Testing and evaluation of the interfacial interactions between the asphalt binder and mineral aggregate

● Emerging technologies and materials for the preservation and maintenance of pavements

● Experimental and theoretical methodologies evaluating the moisture damage of asphalt pavement

● Novel materials and techniques for the production of environment-friendly pavement

● Studies on the relationship between the physiochemical properties of the asphalt binder and its engineering properties.