Asphalt testing
Asphalt binder testing
- Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR): Two research grade DSRs with CTD to measure dynamic shear modulus and phase angle of asphalt binders at various temperatures and frequencies.
- Asphalt binder aging ovens: Includes rolling thin film oven (RTFO), thin film oven (TFO), pressurized aging vessel (PAV), and high precision binder aging ovens.
- Rotational viscometers: The Brookfield DV3T Extra system measures the viscosities of asphalt, including foamed asphalt, at elevated temperatures and plot real-time data.
- Bending beam rheometers (BBR): Two BBRs measure the flexural creep stiffness and m-value of asphalt binders and mastics (mortar experiment) at cold temperatures.
- FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy: Produces IR spectrum to analyze the constituents, aging levels, and polymer contents of asphalt binders.
- Cleveland open cup: Measures the flash point and fire point of asphalt binders.
Applicable test methods
| Test description | AASHTO standards | ASTM Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Bending beam rheometer | T313 | D6648 |
| Binder aging (RTFO, PAV) | T240*, R28* | D2827, D6521 |
| Binder bond strength (BBS) | T361 | |
| Dynamic shear rheometer | T315* | D7175 |
| Flash and fire points | T48* | D92 |
| MSCR test | T350 | D7405* |
| Polymer content | T302 | |
| Rotational viscometer | T316* | D4402 |
| Specific gravity of asphalt binder | T228* | D70 |
| Superpave PG grading | M320 | D6373 |
* Denotes WRSC is AASHTO accredited for the test method
Asphalt emulsion testing
- Penetrometer: the automated system precisely measures the penetration of asphalt and emulsion residue.
- Ductility and percent recovery testing machine: Measures the ductility and elastic recovery of asphalt and emulsion residue.
- Torsional recovery apparatus: Determines the amount of elasticity that a polymer has imparted to emulsion residue.
- Saybolt viscometer: Contains Furol and universal orifices to measure the viscosity of emulsions and oils.
- Particle charge testing apparatus: the system identifies the cationic emulsified asphalt.
- Emulsion residue by distillation: Determines the amount of residue and oil distillate in emulsified asphalt.
Applicable test methods
| Test description | AASHTO standards | ASTM Standards | Other Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond strength (LISST) | TP114 | ||
| Cement mixing test | T59 | D6935 | |
| Coating test | T59 | ||
| Demulsibility | T59 | D6936 | |
| Ductility test | T51, T300 | D113 | |
| Elastic recovery test | T301 | D6084 | |
| Particle charge | T59 | ||
| Penetration test | T49 | D5 | |
| Residue by distillation/evaporation | T59 | D6997/D6934/D7497 | Nev. T759 |
| Saybolt furol viscosity | T59 | D7496 | |
| Settlement | T59 | D6930 | |
| Sieve test | T59 | D6933 | |
| Softening point | T53 | D36 | |
| Solubility | T44 | D2042 |
* Denotes WRSC is AASHTO accredited for the test method
Asphalt mixture testing
- Asphalt mix design equipment: Includes Superpave gyratory, Hveem and Marshall Compactors. Stabilometers and Marshall Press.
- Asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT): Measures mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures and used for the performance tests such as FN, SCB, IDT, I-FIT, IDEAL-CT, and Overlay test.
- Flexural beam fatigue test: Hydraulic and pneumatic flexural beam fatigue testing machines measure the fatigue life and fatigue energy of the asphalt mixtures.
- Universal testing machine (UTM) with temperature chamber: For the performance tests of any asphalt pavement materials.
- Texas overlay tester: The stand-alone system measures the reflective cracking and/or fatigue cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures (HMA, WMA, CIR, Overlays, etc.).
- Uniaxial Thermal Stress and Strain Test (UTSST) apparatus: Determines the thermal viscoelastic and thermal volumetric properties of asphalt mixtures.
Applicable test methods
| Test description | AASHTO standards | ASTM Standards | Other Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binder content (ignition, extraction) | T308, T164* | D5404* | |
| Specific gravities (Parafilm, Corelok) | T166*, T275, T331, T209*, T269* | D1188, D2041, D3203, D6752, D6857, D2726 | |
| Dynamic modulus & FN test | T378, T342 | D3497 | |
| Flexural beam fatigue test | T321 | D7460 | |
| Mix designs (Superpave, Marshall, Hveem) | M323/T321, T245, T246*, T247* | D6925, D6927 | |
| Raveling test | D7196 | ||
| Cantabro test | D7064 | Tex-245-F | |
| Repeated load triaxial (RLT) test | NCHRP9-30A | ||
| Mr (asphalt mixtures, base, SG, CSB, FDR) | T307 | D4123 | |
| SCB, I-FIT | TP105, TP124 | D8044 | |
| Tensile strength ratio/ IDEAL-CT/IDT | T283*/T322 | D4867 | FLDOT |
| Texas overlay test | Tex-248-F | ||
| Triaxial compression test | T167, T208, T296 | ||
| UTSST | D8303 |
* Denotes WRSC is AASHTO accredited for the test method
Asphalt emulsion mixture testing
- Mix designs of emulsion mixtures: Conducts CIR, FDR, Slurry Seal, and Microsurfacing mix designs.
- Wet abrasion testing apparatus: Measures the abrasion resistance of emulsion mixes under wet condition.
- Cohesion tester: Measures the cure time of emulsion mixes and estimate the time required for opening to traffic.
- Consistency testing system: Measures the consistency of the emulsion mixes.
- Loaded wheel tester: Measures the permanent deformation and amount of excess asphalt in emulsion mixtures.
- In-place mat density measurements: Water balloon test and sand cone test measures the in-place density of CIR layer.
Applicable test methods
| Test description | ASTM Standards | Other Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency Test | D3910 | TB-106 |
| Cure time | D3910 | TB-139 |
| Mix designs (CIR, FDR, Micro Surfacing, Slurry Seal) | D3910 | TB-111, A143 |
| Mix time | TB-113 | |
| Raveling test | D7196 | |
| Sand cone test | ||
| Set time | D3910 | TB-139 |
| Water balloon test | ||
| Wet stripping test | TB-114 | |
| Wet track abrasion test | D3910 | TB-100 |
| Excess asphalt by LWT | TB-109 |