Evaluation of Superpave HMA Mixture Properties at the Plant versus behind the Paver: Statistical Comparison of QC and QA Data
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 7
Abstract
State highway agencies concerned with lower asphalt levels and potential durability problems in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures designed with superior performing asphalt pavements (Superpave) have lead efforts to explore strategies for improving Superpave mix design. This study addressed the differences in HMA properties that have been observed over the years between samples taken at the plant versus behind the paver for Superpave designed mixtures in Maryland. A large set of Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) data were analyzed statistically in the context of current specifications. Statistical analysis found that the means and standard deviations of the QC and QA data represent different populations. Because the material leaving the asphalt plant is the same material that is compacted behind the paver, some relationship between the plant and field properties is expected. However, attempts to define transfer functions between QA and QC measurements to use both data sets in HMA acceptance testing encountered low levels of statistical significance.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Amiurkhanian, S. N., Burati, J. L., and Mirchandani, H. C. (1994). “Effect of testing variability on contractor payment for asphalt pavements.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage.JCEMD4, 120(3), 579–592.
Benson, P. E. (1999). “Performance review of a quality control/quality assurance specification for asphalt concrete.” Transportation Research Record 1654, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 88–94.
Brown, E. R., Buchanan, M. S., Anderson, M. A., and Huber, G. (1998). “Superpave gyratory compaction guidelines.” NCHRP Research Results Digest 237, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Burati, J. L. (2006). “Evaluating specification limits.” Transportation Research Record 1946, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 92–98.
La Vassar, C. J., Mahoney, J., and Willoughby, K. (2009). “Statistical assessment of quality assurance-quality control data for hot mix asphalt.” Rep. WA-RD 686.1, Washington State Transportation Center, Olympia, WA, 1–138.
Muench, S., and Mahoney, J. (2001). “A quantification and evaluation of WSDOT’s hot mix asphalt concrete statistical acceptance specification.” Rep. WA-RD 517.1, Washington State Transportation Center, Olympia, WA, 1–47.
Maryland Dept. of Transportation State Highway Administration Office of Materials and Technology Maryland Standard Method of Tests (MSHA). (2008). MSMT 735—Statistical analysis of material using quality level analysis for determination of pay factors, MSHA, Hanover, MD.
McCabe, B., AbouRizk, S., and Gavin, J. (2002). “Time of sampling strategies for asphalt pavement quality assurance.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage.JCEMD4, 128(1), 85–89.
Parker, F., and Turochy, R. E. (2007). “Using the results of contractor-performed tests in quality assurance.” NCHRP Research Results Digest 323, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Pellinen, T., and Kuczek, T. (2007). “Methodology of assessing testing variation for volumetric quantities in hot mix asphalt production.” J. Test. Eval.JTEVAB, 35, 1–8.
Sholar, G. A., Page, G. C., Musselman, J. A., Upshaw, P. B., and Moseley, H. L. (2005). “Development of the Florida Dept. of Transportation’s percent within limits hot-mix asphalt specification.” Transportation Research Board Record No. 1907, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 43–51.
Turochy, R., Willis, R., and Parker, F. (2006). “Quality assurance of hot-mix asphalt comparison of contractor quality control and Georgia Dept. of Transportation data.” Transportation Research Record No. 1946, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 47–54.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 7 • July 2012
Pages: 924 - 932
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 31, 2011
Accepted: Dec 20, 2011
Published online: Dec 23, 2011
Published in print: Jul 1, 2012
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.