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Materials Testing & Performance
More than 60 years of transport innovation
ARRB has led Australia’s research and development in road pavements and innovation for within the transport industry for more than 60 years.
We have purpose-built, world-class transport research labs – one of seven such facilities in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere – based in Australia. The labs at ARRB’s National Transport Research Centre in Fishermans Bend, Melbourne, provide independent, fully accredited materials testing and performance for established materials, new materials, recycled and emerging materials.
We also have an Accelerated Loading Facility (ALF), which can simulate heavy vehicle trafficking under controlled conditions, based at Dandenong in Melbourne’s south-east.
ARRB tests and assesses all types of asphalt, bituminous binders, sprayed seals, bound and unbound granular pavements, polymer modified binder formations and asphalt mix design.
Infrastructure Measurement
Laboratory Division
Our laboratory division is highly qualified to provide a multitude of services including and not limited to:
- Chemical and physical assessment of bituminous binders
- Compliance and physical testing on asphalt and sprayed seals
- Polymer modified binder formulations
- Performance based testing and research on asphalt and sprayed seals
- Asphalt mix design
- Deformation of bound and unbound granular pavements
- Calibration and maintenance of portable skid resistance testers
- National reference testing and interlaboratory proficiency programs
Accelerated Loading Facility
The Accelerated Loading Facility (ALF) is used to simulate heavy vehicle trafficking on pavement structures under controlled conditions. Some of the services it can simulate are;
- Rank relative performance of materials or processes at commercial scale
- Investigate parameters used in pavement design
- Assessment of recycled materials and give indication of long-term service life
- Assessment of recycled materials for leaching, microplastics, cracks, load issues and more
- Provide support for road construction activities such as full-scale proof testing
- Assist with development of network deterioration models
- Enhance full-scale long-term monitoring studies
- Building capacity and expertise
Materials we have worked with and assessed for use in a variety of road construction and transport infrastructure applications include:
- Truck Tyres
- Passenger Tyres
- Agricultural Tyres
- Conveyor Belts
- Crushed Glass
- Slag
- Silica Manganese
- Carbon Char
- Bottom Ash
- Fly Ash
- Organics
- Plastic Grocery Bags
- Plastic Containers
- Comingled Plastic
- Additive Manufacturing Plastic
- Failed Currency Notes
- 3D print polymer
- Toner
- Engine Oil
- Lubricant Oil
- Bio Oil
- Iron Oxide
- Bauxite Clay
- Silicon Carbide
- Recycled Asphalt Pavement
- C&D Waste
- Blended Soil
- Reclaimed Paint
- Textile Fibre
- Waste Pulp and Fibre