Mix it Up

If you learn that eating sandwiches made with white bread on a daily basis could lead to intestinal problems, would you continue to eat white bread every day? Some consumers might look for other ways to cut back on the use of refined white flour, lessening the use of genetically modified grains in the diet […]

A growing number of highway agencies are revising their asphalt specs to establish limits or trigger points for reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) based on how much the recycled binders contribute to the total binder content of mixes. Some agencies use the term “binder replacement” or “binder ratio” to convey this […]

Sieve shakers save considerable time and improve accuracy and repeatability of particle size tests when compared to hand-shaking methods by increasing the opportunities for particle passage. Modern sieve shakers can be categorized by their actions into three basic types: mechanical, vibratory or sonic. Let’s take a look at how to select the ideal shaker based […]

Researchers in Canada give new hope to the use of recycled glass in asphalt pavements with the work of a large partnership. During a Dec. 1, 2015, press conference, Robert Poëti, Quebec’s Minister of Transport, lauded the integration of glass as a component of road manufacturing in the industry’s overall efforts to limit green house […]

Asphalt labs around the world use rotational viscosity to measure binder viscosity. Highway departments in each country have practiced this method of testing even before the Strategic Highway Research Program in the United States began the practice more than 25 years ago. While the benchtop viscometer is a popular instrument of choice for testing, there […]

In July of this year, Michael Heitzman, PhD, PE, with the assistance of Pamela Turner and Mary Greer of the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, released NCAT Report 15-04 to share the findings of a high friction surface treatment (HFST) study of alternative aggregates to calcined bauxite. The point of […]

To get optimal use out of your test sieves, you need to ensure you’re properly storing and cleaning them. Test sieves are precision instruments. If handles with care, they will last longer and retain their accuracy. Before You Start Clean new sieves using mild soap and warm water to remove grease and oil prior to […]

Test track sections evaluate use of cold central-plant recycling for high-volume roads Cold central-plant recycling (CCPR) is gaining interest as a cost-effective alternative for base layers in pavement reconstruction. CCPR combines reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) with foamed or emulsified asphalt in a central production plant without the application of heat. The resulting material is handled […]