Levels of Variability in Volumetric and Mechanical Properties of Asphalt Mixtures
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 10
Abstract
The objective of this study was to quantify the levels and sources of variability in the measurements of volumetric and mechanical properties of dense-graded asphalt mixtures on the basis of existing test data from state agencies and contractors. To achieve this objective, data were collected from state DOTs and research agencies, and a statistical analysis was conducted on a per-state basis to provide an overall quantification of the levels of variability for the different volumetric and mechanical properties. A meta-analysis based on the collected data was conducted to identify sources of variability for volumetric and mechanical properties. According to the results of the analysis, levels of variability for a wide range of volumetric and mechanical properties were quantified. Levels of variability were comparable for various state DOTs located in different climatic regions. It was determined that results obtained by the state and contractor were statistically equivalent for the majority of the volumetric properties. Nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) of asphalt mixtures appeared to influence the magnitude of the variability observed for the various volumetric and mechanical properties. The results presented in this paper were part of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 9-48 entitled Field versus Laboratory Volumetrics and Mechanical Properties.
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Acknowledgments
This paper is based on the results of NCHRP 9-48, Field versus Laboratory Volumetric and Mechanical Properties. The authors would like to acknowledge the guidance of the Technical Review Panel for NCHRP Project 9-48 and Dr. Ed Harrigan, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The assistance of state agencies personnel, Minkyum Kim, Patrick Icenogle, Ervin Dukatz, Joe Button, and Chuck Hughes, in providing the data is greatly appreciated.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 25 • Issue 10 • October 2013
Pages: 1424 - 1431
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 11, 2012
Accepted: Jul 11, 2012
Published online: Sep 16, 2013
Published in print: Oct 1, 2013
Discussion open until: Feb 16, 2014
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