As a follow up to these meetings the Fourth International Symposium has the purpose of emphasizing the role of mechanical tests in the characterization, design and quality control of bituminous mixes. Its basic objectives are to evaluate all information enabling the assessment of methods, their advantages and drawbacks and also the manner in which problems can be solved, to establish a better understanding and a documentation of results of research and practical engineering in order to establish a common ground between research, road authorities and contractors.