Rheological indexes for asphalt binders considering different aging conditions: Evaluation and correlations with performance

•Performance-based specifications have been developed to differentiate asphalt binders.•Deeper investigations should identify representative parameters for damage phenomena.•Rheological indexes should be compared considering distinct aging conditions. This paper evaluates rheological parameters adopted worldwide in the characterization of asphalt binders. For that, samples of various binders in different aging states were tested in a DSR. In addition, SARA and NMR chemical characterizations were also performed. Spanish, English, and German rheological parameters were identified as good performance indicators. All indexes agreed on the identification of the two most aging susceptible binders. GR and VET were considered advantageous for aging analysis because their cracking limits have been defined and validated by field studies. With aging, aromatic compounds were identified as proportional to stiffness, whereas saturates were related to ΔTc.