Procedure for Determining Mixing and Compaction Temperatures of Asphalt Binders in Hot Mix Asphalt

The Asphalt Institute (AI) procedure for determining mixing and compaction temperatures of asphalt binders was developed for the standard penetration- and viscosity-graded materials predominantly used in the United States until the 1990s. Since that time, the use of modified binders in hot mix asphalt (HMA) paving has increased significantly. This is particularly true for HMA used on high-volume traffic routes. The AI procedure often requires heating of modified binders to unrealistically high temperatures at which degradation of the asphalt binder can occur. To overcome this problem, highway agencies usually rely on the suppliers of modifiers to recommend mixing and compaction temperatures, and this has produced mixed results. Research to date on methods to determine mixing and compaction temperatures has not substantially improved upon the AI procedure. A fresh look is needed at existing and emerging procedures to determine temperatures that will provide satisfactory aggregate coating and appropriate laboratory specimen compaction without degrading the asphalt binder. The objective of this study is to identify or develop a simple, rapid, and accurate laboratory procedure for determining the mixing and compaction temperatures of asphalt binder. The procedure shall be suitable for routine agency use and applicable to both unmodified and modified binders and may be based on testing of asphalt binders, HMA, or both.

• Record URL:
  http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=973

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $400000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 9-39

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Harrigan, Edward

• Performing Organizations:

  Auburn University

  National Center for Asphalt Technology
  310 Sanford Hall
  Auburn, Alabama  United States  36849-5131
• Principal Investigators:

  West, Randy

• Start Date: 20050701
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20091231
• Source Data: RiP Project 10565

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Binders; Compaction; Hot mix asphalt; Mix design; Research projects; Temperature
• Identifier Terms: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Highways; I30: Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01463079
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Contract Numbers: Project 9-39
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:16PM