Crack resistant layer with good binder fracture energy properties and method of selecting same

A method of producing a crack resistant layer to be applied to an existing surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• (1) developing a formulation for a bituminous mixture according to methods known in the art, where the bituminous mixture comprises a bituminous binder and an aggregate, the bituminous binder comprises bitumen and one or more polymers, and the one or more polymers include a sufficient amount of conjugated diene such that at least 2.5% of the bituminous binder's weight comprises conjugated diene;
• (2) establishing a binder fracture energy criterion;
• (3) forming a sample of the bituminous binder;
• (4) testing the sample for binder fracture energy properties, where binder fracture energy properties are properties the sample displays when subjected to binder fracture energy testing;
• (5) if the binder fracture enemy properties of the sample meet the binder fracture energy criterion, producing the bituminous mixture from the aggregate and the bituminous binder and producing the crack resistant layer from the bituminous mixture;
• and
• (6) if the binder fracture energy properties of the sample do not meet the binder fracture energy criterion, reformulating the bituminous binder to have greater conjugated diene and repeating steps 3 through 6.