Mix it Up

If you want to reduce the variability of your gyratory specimen test results, you must improve the uniformity of the asphalt specimens you produce. Here are a few basic tips for compacting better asphalt specimens.

Having lab equipment in proper calibration gives you a better chance at proper measurements and testing results. Dan Ridolfi of Lastrada Partners, El Dorado Hills, California, stated the calibration and maintenance of lab equipment is just as important as the calibration and maintenance of the asphalt and aggregate equipment at the plant. “A producer never […]

NCAT offers pressure aging vessel tips and tricks for your new lab tech to age the binder properly for testing.

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities is on the front line when it comes to promoting new technologies that give them continuous, full coverage asphalt pavement density testing for road paving projects. Continuous testing uses multiple inputs to look for failure zones and has a high probability of detecting defects before they lead […]

In the January 2018 issue, Courtney Jones and Mike Heitzman from the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn, shared “Michigan Tests Friction Aggregates” from their contribution to the fall 2017 NCAT Newsletter. This excellent article can be reviewed on www.TheAsphaltPro.com. The authors shared results of evaluating 11 aggregates for high friction surface treatments […]

We all know that in our industry, what works for one climate may not work for another, and low gyration mix designs are no exception. “We have a similar mix design at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) test track in Alabama,” said Robert Semones, branch manager of the Kentucky Department of Transportation (KYTC) […]

Editor’s Note: Read the February issue for findings from the Florida Department of Transportation’s experience with HFSTs over time. High friction surface treatments (HFST) provide enhanced pavement friction in critical safety locations such as horizontal curves and bridge decks. HFSTs are a thin layer of durable, high friction aggregate bonded to an existing pavement surface […]

How cubical do the aggregate particles used in Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) need to be to achieve acceptable performance? European specifications require SMA aggregates to have no more than 30 percent Los Angeles (L.A.) abrasion loss (AASHTO T96) and no more than 20 percent flat and elongated (F&E) particles when measured at a 3:1 ratio […]