Statistical Analysis of Hot-Mix Asphalt Pay for Performance versus Quality Control for Performance
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part B: Pavements
Volume 148, Issue 2
Abstract
Statistical analysis of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) data for quality assurance programs used by the Illinois DOT was conducted. The aim was to quantify the total amount of incentives and disincentives, and distribution of the measured values, variability of HMA test results and identify significant variations between contractor and agency results. Quality control and quality assurance data for construction projects were collected for the 2015–2017 construction seasons and were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Levene’s tests. The results indicated that during 2015 and 2016, approximately 44% to 55% of the produced HMA tonnage received disincentives, averaging $20,000 per project, based on 710 projects analyzed. More than 80% of the construction projects showed no significant difference between the quality assurance results reported by the district and contractor quality control results. HMA density was the most frequent pay parameter–caused contractor disincentive, and air void content was the second. The bulk specific gravity test results, which contribute to air void and voids in mineral aggregates, were found to be the most variable and, hence, the main cause of differences between IDOT and contractor laboratory data.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are proprietary or confidential in nature and may only be provided with restrictions. Restricted data include QC and QA data, which include volumetrics, gradation, and binder content; pay factors for AV, VMA, and density; and hypothesis test results from statistical analyses. For more information on how the data can be requested, contact the corresponding author at [email protected].
Acknowledgments
This publication is based on the results from Illinois Center for Transportation Project R27-189: Evaluation of Data Trends and Variability in the Quality Control for Performance (QCP) and Pay for Performance (PFP) Programs. The research was conducted in cooperation with the Illinois Center for Transportation, the IDOT, and the US DOT, FHWA. The authors appreciate the feedback, comments, and suggestions provided by the technical review panel members throughout the study; the committee was chaired by Jim Trepanier. The authors acknowledge the feedback and comments from Adam Hand, John Huang, David Lippert, Hadi Meidani, and the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. The contents of this paper reflect the view of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Illinois Center for Transportation, the IDOT, or the FHWA.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part B: Pavements
Volume 148 • Issue 2 • June 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 12, 2021
Accepted: Jan 4, 2022
Published online: Mar 10, 2022
Published in print: Jun 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Aug 10, 2022
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