Modern requirements for stone mastic asphalt mixtures and stone mastic asphalt

Introduction. Increasing the durability of pavement structures and harmonizing the national regulatory framework with European standards are key tasks for Ukraine’s road sector. The quality of stone mastic asphalt (SMA), as one of the most effective materials for surface courses, directly depends on the relevance of regulatory requirements. In Ukraine, these requirements were standardized by DSTU B V.2.7-127:2015 until 2024. However, in order to introduce modern approaches, a new standard, DSTU 9290-5:2024, has been developed and adopted. Problem Statement. Analysis shows that the requirements of DSTU B V.2.7-127:2015, although providing a basic quality level, had a number of shortcomings: insufficiently strict requirements for the geometric characteristics of aggregates, reliance on outdated nomenclature of bituminous binders, and most importantly, the absence of testing methods directly assessing asphalt performance, in particular rutting resistance. Such discrepancies with European practice restrained the real service life improvement of road pavements. Objective. To carry out a detailed comparative analysis of the requirements for stone mastic asphalt mixtures and SMA according to DSTU B V.2.7-127:2015 and the new DSTU 9290-5:2024, in order to identify key innovations and scientifically substantiate their impact on improving road construction quality.