Asphalt Materials Laboratory

Use in Undergraduate Instruction

Civil engineering involves the study of the engineering mechanics and properties a range of construction materials. The asphalt materials laboratory give students "hands on" experience in the analysis of material properties which are required for design and analysis of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavements using current SUPERior Performing Asphalt paVEments (SUPERPAVE) procedures. Dry sieve analysis experiments are conducted on a range of aggregate samples to determine the grain size distribution of each. This data is used to develop aggregate blends which meet grading requirements. Viscosity tests are conducted on a range of asphalt binders to determine the temperature-viscosity relations of each. Students develop HMA mix designs and then prepare and compact HMA sample mixtures to examine the volumetric properties of these design mixes. Performance testing of these mixes is also conducted using the Georgia Loaded Wheel Tester.

Other Equipment in the Laboratory

Brookfield Viscometer: The Brookfield Rotational Viscometer is used develop temperature-viscosity relations for asphalt binders. This data is used to ensure conformance to typical specifications and to develop mixing and compaction temperatures for use during sample mix preparation.

Brovold Gyratory Compactor: The gyratory compactor is used to produce compacted HMA specimens following current SUPERPAVE test protocol. Volumetric properties of the compacted mixes are examined throughout the compaction process using real-time data acquisition. These properties are used to ensure conformance to mix specifications and to develop optimum mix designs.

Georgia Loaded Wheel Tester: The Georgia Loaded Wheel Tester is used to conduct performance tests on compacted HMA mixtures. The device simulates heavy truck traffic and measures rutting produced by multiple wheel loads. This data is used to ensure compacted HMA mixtures which conform to standard specifications are also resistant to rutting after placement.