NETC 02-1 Relating Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement Density to Performance

Funding Source: New England Transportation Consortium (NETC)
ATMC Materials Lab Involvement: Principle Investigator
Partnering Universities: University of New Hampshire & Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Start Date: September 2003
End Date: August 2006
Summary:

Density is one of the most important properties of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Most of the currently used mix designs rely primarily on achieving optimum densities, and most Quality Assurance (QA) specifications used by state department of transportation use density as a critical parameter. If construction density is too low or high, the pavement could consequently be susceptible to durability and rutting problems.

The objective of the proposed study is to determine relationship between pavement density and performance through testing of pavements at different levels of in-place density with accelerated pavement loading equipment and environmental simulation. The experimental plan involves testing and analyzing the same HMA at varying densities to determine the critical parameters surrounding their susceptibility to rutting and fatigue.