Approaches to Value and Factors Considered in Asphalt Appraisals
Primary asphalt demand typically peaks in late summer and early autumn and declines in November, December, January, and February when weather in much of the U.S. is less amenable to construction. Normally, production of primary asphalt follows a similar cycle, but with a smoother path showing less winter-to summer variation. As with most seasonal businesses, the sales to inventory levels are inverse.
For our analysis and liquidation models, JCM first calculates the net salable barrels/tons of product by estimating the number of barrels/tons that were classified as unrecoverable using the Company’s “Heel Report”, by location and then making this portion of the inventory ineligible. “Heels” (also referred to as “tank bottoms”) are the remaining barrels/tons of product in the tanks that could not be easily pumped out because the physical configuration of the storage tanks. As a result , there is some product which would not be removed during a liquidation because the excessive time, effort and expense relating to the removal of the product would be prohibitive. Tank bottoms, or “heels” are an issue with all types of inventory, but are most important in relation to first asphalt and then emulsions. Remember, tank bottoms (heels) are a constant and usable inventory is variable. As a result, the percentage of product that is ineligible is inverse to the total barrels/tons actually in the tank.
JCM’s primary liquidation value is based, on the premise that demand for finished goods inventory would be at its highest during the high season, but that sales of asphalt would remain high because of contracts that had already been negotiated and because of additional discounting that would be given during the liquidation. Based on the demand, then, products would be manufactured on an as needed basis and would probably be sold through their normal channels.
Things to remember
- Understand the operations of the Company.
- Be familiar with regional and/or seasonal market fluctuations.
- Understand the nomenclature and unit of measure.
- Determine the best market for each type of asset.
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Key Terms When Appraising and Liquidating Asphalt
A measure of the viscosity of asphalt with respect to time, measured in poises, conducted at 60°C (140°F). The test method utilizes a partial vacuum to induce flow in the viscometer.
Machines used for spreading aggregate evenly at a uniform rate on a surface.
Bins that store the necessary aggregate sizes and feed them to the dryer in substantially the same proportions as are required in the finished mix.
Trucks equipped with hydraulic lifts to dump the aggregate into the spreader or storage area.
A hard inert mineral material, such as gravel, crushed rock, slag, or crushed stone, used in pavement applications either by itself or for mixing with asphalt.
Internal spaces in a compacted mix surrounded by asphalt-coated particles, expressed as a percentage by volume of the total compacted mix.
A dark brown to black cementitious material in which the predominating constituents are bitumens, which occur in nature or are obtained in petroleum processing. Asphalt is a constituent in varying proportions of most crude petroleum and used for paving, roofing, industrial and other special purposes.
Interconnected cracks forming a series of small blocks resembling an alligator’s skin or chicken-wire, and caused by excessive deflection of the surface over unstable sub grade or lower courses of the pavement.
The application of sprayed asphalt coatings not involving the use of aggregates.
Asphalt cement that is classified according to the Standard Specification for Performance Graded Asphalt Binder, AASHTO Designation MP1. It can be either unmodified or modified asphalt cement, as long as it complies with the specifications.
A mixture of asphalt binder and aggregate thoroughly mixed and compacted into a mass.
A truck or a trailer having an insulated tank, heating system and distribution system. The distributor applies asphalt to a surface at a uniform rate.
An emulsion of asphalt binder and water that contains a small amount of an emulsifying agent. Emulsified asphalt droplets may be of either the anionic (negative charge), cationic (positive charge) or nonionic (neutral).
A mixture of unheated mineral aggregate and emulsified (or cutback) asphalt binder. It can be plant-mixed or mixed in-place.
A mixture of asphalt emulsion and mineral aggregate usually prepared in a conventional hot mix asphalt plant at a temperature less than 95°C (200°F). It is spread and compacted at a temperature above 65°C (150°F).
A mixture of slow-setting emulsified asphalt, fine aggregate, and mineral filler with a slurry consistency
A course of hot mix asphalt of variable thickness used to eliminate irregularities in the contour of an existing surface prior to placing the subsequent course.
A pavement structure that is designed and constructed so that all courses above the sub grade are asphalt concrete (Full-Depth Asphalt Pavement).
Pavements consisting of a surface course of asphalt concrete over supporting courses such as asphalt concrete bases, crushed stone, slag, gravel, Portland Cement Concrete (PCC), brick, or block pavement.
An application of asphalt primer to an absorbent surface. It is used to prepare an untreated base for an asphalt surface. The prime penetrates or is mixed into the surface of the base and plugs the voids, hardens the top and helps bind it to the overlying asphalt course.
Low viscosity asphalt (highly liquid) that penetrates into a non-bituminous surface upon application.
High quality, thoroughly controlled hot mixture of asphalt rubber binder (AR) and well-graded, high quality aggregate, which can be thoroughly compacted into a uniform dense mass.
Conventional asphalt cement to which recycled ground tire rubber has been added, that when reacted with the hot asphalt cement causes a swelling and/or dispersion of the tire rubber particles.
A relatively thin application of asphalt binder applied to an existing asphalt concrete or PCC surface at a prescribed rate. Asphalt emulsion diluted with water is the preferred type. It is used to form a bond between an existing surface and the overlying course.
The high molecular weight hydrocarbon fraction precipitated from asphalt by a designated paraffinic naphtha solvent at a specified solvent-asphalt ratio.
A control system in which the opening and closing of the weigh hopper discharge gate, the bituminous discharge valve, and the pug mill discharge gate are actuated by means of self-acting mechanical or electrical machinery without any intermediate manual control. The system includes preset timing devices to control the desired periods of dry and wet mixing cycles.
A system that automatically maintains the temperature of aggregates discharged from the dryer within a preset range.
A system in which proportions of the aggregate and asphalt fractions are controlled by means of gates or valves, which are opened and closed by means of self-acting mechanical or electronic machinery without any intermediate manual control.
An analytical technique used to determine the equivalent elastic moduli of pavement layers corresponding to the measured load and deflections. In the iterative method, layer moduli are selected and adjusted until the difference between the calculated and measured deflections are within selected tolerances, or the maximum number of iterations has been reached.
Gravel found in natural deposits, usually intermixed with fine material such as sand or clay or a combination thereof; includes gravelly clay, gravelly sand, clayey gravel, and sandy gravel (the names indicate the relative proportion of the materials in the mixture).
The layer in the pavement system immediately below the binder and surface courses. It usually consists of crushed stone, although it may consist of crushed slag or other stabilized or unstabilized material.
A manufacturing facility for producing asphalt paving mixtures that proportions blending. They manufacture asphalt in batches rather than continuously and are more suited for small manufacturing runs and (frequent) changes in mixture types.
The hot mix asphalt course immediately below the surface course, generally consisting of larger aggregates and less asphalt (by weight) than the surface.
A class of black or dark-colored (solid, semisolid, or viscous) cementitious substances, natural or manufactured, composed principally of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, of which asphalts, tars, pitches, and asphaltites are typical.
The nonmetallic product, consisting essentially of silicates and alumino-silicates of lime and of other bases, that is developed simultaneously with iron in a blast furnace.
The upward migration of asphalt binder in an asphalt pavement resulting in the formation of asphalt film on the surface.
A test used for evaluating bases, sub bases, and sub grades for pavement thickness design it is a relative measure of the shear resistance of a soil (see Soils Manual, MS-10). CBR = load required to force a calibrated piston into a soil specimen / load required to force a like piston into a crushed stone specimen capacity and ride quality of the pavement system.
A surface treatment where a chip seal is followed by the application of either slurry seal or micro-surfacing.
Channeled depressions that sometimes develop in the wheel paths of an asphalt pavement.
A fused or partially fused by-product of the combustion of coal. Also includes lava and Portland Cement and partially vitrified slag and brick.
A dark brown to black cementitious material produced by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal.
Aggregate retained on the 2.36 mm (No. 8) sieve.
One having a continuous grading in sizes of particles from coarse through fine with a predominance of coarse sizes.
A unit consisting of a large milling machine towing a screening/crushing plant and pugmill mixer for the addition of asphalt emulsion and production of cold mix base.
The act of compressing a given volume of material into a smaller volume.
Aggregate characteristics that must follow certain criteria to satisfy a Superpave mix design. Specified test values for these properties are not source specific but widely agreed upon. They include Coarse Aggregate Angularity, Fine Aggregate Angularity, Flat or Elongated Particles, and Clay Content.
The degree of fluidity of asphalt cement at any particular temperature. The consistency of asphalt cement varies with its temperature; therefore, it is necessary to use a common or standard temperature when comparing the consistency of one asphalt cement with another.
A type of pavement distortion. Corrugation is a form of plastic deformation typified by ripples across the pavement surface. These distortions usually occur at points where traffic starts and stops, on hills where vehicles brake on the downgrade, on sharp curves, or where vehicles hit a bump and bounce up and down. They occur in asphalt layers that lack stability.
A fractured slab technique used in the rehabilitation of PCC pavements that minimizes slab action in a jointed concrete pavement (JCP) by fracturing the PCC layer into smaller segments. This reduction in slab length minimizes reflective cracking in new HMA overlays.
An approximately vertical random cleavage of the pavement caused by traffic loading, thermal stresses and/or aging of the binder.
A large stone, open graded asphalt mixture placed over a distressed pavement that minimizes reflective cracking by absorbing the energy produced by movement in the underlying pavement.
The total unscreened product of a stone crusher.
The development of the mechanical properties of the asphalt binder. This occurs after the emulsion has broken and the emulsion particles coalesce and bond to the aggregate.
Asphalt cement that has been liquified by blending with petroleum solvents (diluents). Upon exposure to atmospheric conditions the diluents evaporate, leaving the asphalt cement to perform its function.
Pavements containing at least four inches of HMA over non-stabilized base courses.
The idealized shape of the deformed pavement surface as a result of a cyclic or impact load as depicted from the peak measurements of five or more deflection sensors.
A load-induced, downward movement of a pavement section.
The amount of surface rebound when a load is removed.
The mean value of measured rebound deflections in a test section, plus two standard deviations, adjusted for temperature and most critical period of the year for pavement performance.
The difference between original and final elevations of the pavement surface resulting from the application to, and removal of, one or more loads from the surface.
The term that shall be used to refer to the electronic device(s) capable of measuring the vertical movement of the pavement; and, mounted in such a manner as to minimize angular rotation with respect to its measuring plane at the expected movement. Sensor types include seismometers, velocity transducers, and accelerometers.
Permissible variations from the exact desired proportions of aggregate and bituminous material as manufactured by an asphalt plant.
An aggregate that has a particle size distribution such that when it is compacted, the resulting voids between the aggregate particles, expressed as a percentage of the total space occupied by the material, are less than 10%.
The act of increasing the density of a mixture during the compaction process.
The total number of equivalent 80-kN (18,000-lb.), single-axle load applications (equivalent single axle loads) expected throughout the design period.
The lane on which the greatest number of equivalent 80-kN (18,000-lb.) single axle loads (ESAL) is expected. This will normally be either lane of a two-lane roadway or the outside lane of a multi-lane highway.
The number of years from the initial application of traffic until the first planned major resurfacing or overlay. This term should not be confused with pavement life or analysis period. Adding hot mix asphalt overlays as required will extend pavement life indefinitely or until geometric considerations (or other factors) make the pavement obsolete.
The value of the Sub grade Resilient Modulus (MR) used for designing the pavement structure. It is a percentile value of the sub grade resilient modulus test data distribution that varies with design ESAL.
The breaking up of a pavement into small, loose fragments caused by traffic or weathering (e.g. raveling).
Any change of a pavement surface from its original shape.
A manufacturing facility for producing asphalt paving mixtures that proportions the aggregate, then dries and coats the aggregate with a proportional amount of asphalt in the same drum. Variations of this type of plant use several types of drum modifications, separate (and smaller) mixing drums, and coating units (coater) to accomplish the mixing process. They are more suited for long runs of the same product.
An apparatus that will dry the aggregates and heat them to the specified temperatures.
The ability of a substance to be drawn out or stretched thin. While ductility is considered and important characteristic of asphalt cements in many applications, the presence or absence of ductility is usually considered more significant than the actual degree of ductility.
The property of an asphalt pavement that represents its ability to resist disintegration by weathering and traffic.
The separation of the joint between the pavement and the shoulder, commonly caused by the alternate wetting and drying beneath the shoulder surface. Other causes are shoulder settlement, mix shrinkage, and trucks straddling the joint.
The ratio of the thickness of an existing pavement material compared to the equivalent thickness of a new HMA layer.
The chemical added to the water and asphalt that keeps the asphalt in stable suspension in the water. The emulsifier determines the charge of the emulsion and controls the breaking rate.
The effect on pavement performance of any combination of axle loads of varying magnitude equated to the number of 80-kN (18,000-lb.) single-axle loads that are required to produce an equivalent effect.
The ability of asphalt pavement to resist crack initiation caused by repeated flexing.
A difference in elevation of two slabs at a joint or crack.
Aggregate passing the 2.36 mm (No. 8) sieve.
One having a continuous grading in sizes of particles from coarse through fine with a predominance of fine sizes.
The ability of an asphalt pavement structure to conform to settlement of the foundation. Generally, flexibility of the asphalt paving mixture is enhanced by high asphalt content.
A light application of diluted asphalt emulsion. It is used to renew old asphalt surfaces, seal small cracks and surface voids, and inhibit raveling.
Processes used to rehabilitate PCC pavements by eliminating slab action through the reduction of slab size (crack/break and seat) or the pulverization of the PCC slab (rubblization) into essentially a granular base.
The term FULL-DEPTH (registered by the Asphalt Institute with the U.S. Patent Office) certifies that the pavement is one in which asphalt mixtures are employed for all courses above the sub grade or improved sub grade. A Full-Depth asphalt pavement is placed directly on the prepared sub grade.
Localized low areas of limited size.
Two-axle, six-tire trucks or larger. Pickup, panel and light four-tire trucks are not included. Trucks with heavy- duty, wide-base tires are included.
Bins that store heated and fractionated aggregates prior to their final proportioning into the mixer.
High quality, thoroughly controlled hot mixture of asphalt binder (cement) and well-graded, high quality aggregate, which can be compacted into a uniform dense mass.
One or more courses of HMA over an existing pavement.
The resistance an asphalt pavement has to the passage of air and water into or through the pavement.
A measure of the viscosity of asphalt, measured in centistokes, conducted at a temperature of 135°C (275°F).
Longitudinal separations along the seam between two paving lanes.
A layer or course of paving material applied to a base or a previous layer.
A sub grade preparation technique in which the sub grade soil and added lime are mechanically mixed and compacted to produce a higher modulus base material than the in-situ material.
A road base material consisting of a blend of mineral aggregate, lime, fly ash, and water, which when combined in proper proportions and compacted produces a dense mass of increased strength.
The number of 80-kN (18,000-lb.) single-axle load applications (ESAL) contributed by one passage of an axle.
A vertical crack in the pavement that follows a course approximately parallel to the centerline.
A mixture of asphalt emulsion and mineral aggregate for use in relatively small areas to patch holes, depressions, and distressed areas in existing pavements. Appropriate hand or mechanical methods are used in placing and compacting the mix.
Spreader boxes that are mounted on wheels. The spreaders are attached to and pushed by dump trucks (HMA boxes are pulled and chip spreaders are pushed).
Cutback asphalt composed of asphalt cement and a diluent of medium volatility.
The square opening of a sieve.
A mixture of polymer modified asphalt emulsion, crushed dense graded aggregate, mineral filler, additives and water. It provides a thin resurfacing of 10 to 20 mm (3/8 to 3/4 inch) to the pavement.
A self-propelled unit having a cutting head equipped with carbide-tipped tools for the pulverization and removal of layers of asphalt materials from pavements.
The portion of the fine aggregate passing the 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve.
A finely divided mineral product, at least 70 percent of which will pass a 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve. Pulverized limestone is the most commonly manufactured filler, although other stone dust, hydrated lime, Portland cement, and certain natural deposits of finely divided mineral matter are also used.
High quality, thoroughly controlled hot mixture of modified asphalt rubber binder (AR) and well-graded, high quality aggregate, which can be thoroughly compacted into a uniformly dense mass.
Conventional asphalt cement to which recycled ground tire rubber and compounds have been added, that when reacted with the hot asphalt cement causes a dispersion of the tire rubber particles and compounds.
Two or more surface treatments placed one on the other. The aggregate maximum size of each successive treatment is usually one-half the previous one. A multiple surface treatment may be a series of single treatments that produces a pavement course up to 25mm (1 in.) or more in thickness. A multiple surface treatment is a denser wearing and waterproofing course than a single surface treatment.
Asphalt occurring in nature, which has been derived from petroleum through natural processes of evaporation of volatile fractions, leaving the asphalt fractions. The native asphalt of most importance is found in the Trinidad and Bermudez Lake deposits. Asphalt from these sources is often called lake asphalt.
In the context of pavement evaluation, NDT is deflection testing, without destruction to the pavement, to determine a pavement’s response to pavement loading.
One containing less-fine aggregate in which the void spaces in the compacted aggregate are relatively large and interconnected, usually 10% more.
A pavement surface course that consists of a high-void, asphalt plant mix that permits rapid drainage of rainwater through the course and out the shoulder. The mixture is characterized by a large percentage of one-sized coarse aggregate. This course prevents tires from hydroplaning and provides a skid-resistant pavement surface with significant noise reduction.
The SI unit for viscosity. 1 Pascal-second equals 10 poises.
The lower or underlying pavement course atop the sub base or sub grade and under the top or wearing course.
The entire pavement system of selected materials from sub grade to the surface.
A classification system of asphalt cements based on penetration in 0.1 mm at 25°C (77°F). There are five standard penetration grades for paving: 40-50, 60-70, 85-100, 120-150, and 200-300.
The consistency of a bituminous material expressed as the distance (in tenths of a millimeter) that a standard needle penetrates a sample vertically under specified conditions of loading, time and temperature.
Asphalt binder grade designation used in Superpave. It is based on the binder’s mechanical performance at critical temperatures and aging conditions.
A construction process where stages of the project are performed sequentially according to design and a predetermined time schedule.
A mixture of emulsified (or cutback) asphalt and unheated mineral aggregate prepared in a central mixing plant and spread and compacted with conventional paving equipment while the mixture is at or near ambient temperature.
A foundation course produced in an asphalt mixing plant, which consists of a mineral aggregate uniformly coated with asphalt cement or emulsified asphalt.
Screens located between the dryer and hot bins, which separate heated aggregates into proper hot bin sizes.
A compactor with a number of tires spaced so their tracks overlap delivering a kneading type of compaction.
A centimeter-gram-second unit of absolute viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid in which a value of stress one dyne per square centimeter is required to maintain a difference of velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallel planes in the fluid that lie in the direction of flow and are separated by a distance of one centimeter.
Aggregate particles in a pavement surface that have been worn smooth by traffic.
Conventional asphalt cement to which one or more polymer compounds have been added to improve resistance to deformation at high pavement temperatures and often cracking resistance at low temperatures.
Bowl-shaped openings in the pavement resulting from localized disintegration.
A power operated rotary broom used to clean loose material from the pavement surface.
A mathematical combination of values obtained from certain physical measurements of a large number of pavements, so formulated as to determine, within prescribed limits, the Present Serviceability Rating (PSR) for those pavements.
The rating assigned to a specific pavement section.
The ability of a specific section of pavement to serve its intended use in its existing condition.
Slab deflection under passing loads sometimes resulting in the discharge of water and sub grade soils along joints, cracks and pavement edges.
Cutback asphalt composed of asphalt cement and a naphtha or gasoline-type diluent of high volatility.
The progressive separation of aggregate particles in a pavement from the surface downward or from the edges inward.
Excavated asphalt pavement that has been pulverized, usually by milling, and is used like an aggregate in the recycling of asphalt pavements.
A self-propelled unit having a transverse cutting and mixing head inside of a closed chamber for the pulverization and mixing of existing pavement materials with asphalt emulsion. Asphalt emulsion (and mixing water) may be added directly through the machine by a liquid additive system and spray bar.
A mixture produced after processing existing asphalt pavement materials. The recycled mix may be produced by hot or cold mixing at a plant, or by processing the materials cold and in-place.
Cracks in asphalt overlays (usually over deteriorated PCC pavements) that reflect the crack pattern in the pavement structure below it.
The asphalt binder that remains from an asphalt emulsion after the emulsifying agent has broken and cured, or the remains of a cutback after the volatiles have cured.
A laboratory measurement of the behavior of pavement materials to characterize their stiffness and resiliency (see Soils Manual, MS-10). A confined or unconfined test specimen (core or recompacted) is repeatedly loaded and unloaded at a prescribed rate. The resilient modulus is a function of load duration, load frequency, and number of loading cycles.
A test for evaluating bases, sub bases, and sub grades for pavement thickness design.
Asphalt cement and oils of low volatility, usually similar to one of the slow-curing (SC) grades.
All facilities on which motor vehicles are intended to travel such as secondary roads, interstate highways, streets and parking lots.
An instrumented, single-wheel trailer, which measures the roughness of a pavement surface in accumulated millimeters, or inches, per mile.
The pulverization of a Portland cement concrete pavement into smaller particles, reducing the existing pavement layer to a sound, structural base that will be compatible to an asphalt overlay.
A mixture of sand and asphalt cement, cutback asphalt or emulsified asphalt. It may be prepared with sand or clay or combinations thereof including gravelly clay, gravelly sand, clayey gravel, and sandy gravel (the names indicate the relative proportions of the materials in the mixture). Either mixing-in-place or plant mix construction may be employed. Sand asphalt is used in construction of both base and surface course and may or may not contain mineral filler.
Fine aggregate (any fraction below a No. 8 sieve) resulting from natural disintegration and abrasion or processing of rock.
A surface treatment consisting of the application of a large aggregate, then a spray applied asphalt emulsion, and covered with a smaller aggregate.
A material consisting essentially of fine aggregate particles smaller than 2.36 mm (No. 8) sieve and usually containing material passing a 75 μm (No. 200) sieve. This material usually exhibits some plasticity characteristics.
A method of controlling reflective cracking in HMA overlays that involves constructing joints in the new overlay exactly over the joints in the existing pavement.
The peeling away or disintegrating of the surface of Portland cement concrete.
A thin surface treatment used to improve the surface texture and protect an asphalt surface. The main types of seal coats are fog seals, sand seals, slurry seals, micro-surfacing, cape seals, sandwich seals and chip seals.
Spreaders having their own power units and two hoppers. The spreader pulls the truck as it dumps its load into the receiving hopper. Conveyor belts move the aggregate forward to the spreading hopper.
A hot mixture of asphalt binder with clean, angular, graded sand and mineral filler. Its use is ordinarily confined to reservoir liners and landfill caps; usually laid on an intermediate or leveling course.
A form of plastic movement resulting in localized bulging of the pavement.
Interconnected cracks forming a series of large blocks, usually with sharp corners or angles.
An apparatus for laboratory work in which the openings in the mesh are square for separating sizes of material.
A single application of asphalt to a road surface followed immediately by a single layer of aggregate. The thickness of the treatment is about the same as the nominal, maximum size aggregate particles.
Any condition that might contribute to the reduction of friction forces on the pavement surface.
The ability of a paved surface, particularly when wet, to offer resistance to slipping or skidding. Proper asphalt content and aggregate with a rough surface texture are the greatest contributors. The aggregate must not only have a rough surface texture, but also resist polishing.
Crescent-shaped cracks resulting from traffic-induced horizontal forces that are open in the direction of the thrust of wheels on the pavement surface. They result when severe or repeated shear stresses are applied to the surface and there is a lack of bond between the surface layer and the course beneath.
Cutback asphalt composed of asphalt cement and oils of low volatility.
A mixture of emulsified asphalt, well-graded fine aggregate, mineral filler or other additives, and water. A slurry seal will fill minor cracks, restore a uniform surface texture, and restore friction values.
A hardened material formed by curing a mechanically mixed and compacted mixture of pulverized soil, Portland cement and water used as a layer in a pavement system to reinforce and protect the sub grade or sub base.
A measure of the purity of asphalt cement. The ability of the portion of the asphalt cement that is soluble to be dissolved in a specified solvent.
Aggregate characteristics that must follow certain criteria to satisfy a Superpave mix design. Specified values are established by local agencies. They include Toughness, Soundness, and Deleterious Materials.
The breaking or chipping of a PCC pavement at joints, cracks, or edges, usually resulting in fragments with featheredges.
The ability of an asphalt paving mixture to resist deformation from imposed loads. Stability is dependent upon both internal friction and cohesion.
The root-mean-square of the deviations about the arithmetic mean of a set of values.
Asphalt plants that are so constructed that moving them is not considered economically feasible.
Tandem or three-wheel rollers with cylindrical steel rolls that apply their weight directly to the pavement.
A compactor having single or double cylindrical steel rolls that apply compactive effort with weight and vibration. The amount of compactive force is adjusted by changing the frequency and amplitude of vibration.
A unit of kinematic viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid in poises divided by the density of the fluid in grams per cubic centimeter.
A HMA overlay constructed for the purpose of increasing the structural value and ride quality of the pavement system.
The course in the asphalt pavement structure immediately below the base course. If the sub grade soil has adequate support, it may serve as the sub base.
The modulus of the sub grade determined by repeated load, triaxial compression tests on soil samples. It is the ratio of the amplitude of the accepted axial stress to the amplitude of the resultant recoverable axial strain, generally designated by the symbol MR.
Sub grade that has been improved as a working platform by: 1) the incorporation of granular materials or stabilizers such as asphalt, lime, or Portland cement into the sub grade soil; 2) any course or courses of select or improved material placed on the sub grade soil below the pavement structure.
The soil prepared to support a pavement structure or a pavement system. It is the foundation of the pavement structure.
A device used during Superpave mix design or quality control activities for compacting samples of hot mix asphalt into specimens used for volumetric analysis. Continuous densification of the specimen is measured during the compaction process.
An asphalt mixture design system that integrates the selection of materials (asphalt, aggregate) and volumetric proportioning with the project’s climate and design traffic.
Short for “Superior Performing Asphalt Pavement” a performance-based system for selecting and specifying asphalt binders and for designing asphalt mixtures.
A crack that follows a course approximately at right angles to the centerline.
Self-propelled pugmill plants that proportion and mix aggregates and asphalt as they move along the road. There are three general types of travel plants:
1. One that moves through a prepared aggregate windrow on the roadbed, adds and mixes the asphalt as it goes, and rear discharges a mixed windrow ready for aeration and spreading.
2. One that receives aggregate into its hopper from haul trucks, adds and mixes asphalt, and spreads the mix to the rear as it moves along the roadbed.
3. Batch mixing units, such as slurry machines, that haul materials to the site and then mix and apply the materials.
The number of ESALs contributed by one passage of a vehicle. Truck Factors can apply to vehicles of a single type or class or to a group of vehicles of different types.
The localized upward displacement of a pavement due to swelling of the sub grade or some portion of the pavement structure.
A classification system of asphalt cements based on viscosity ranges at 60°C (140°F). A minimum viscosity at 135°C (275°F) is also usually specified. The purpose is to prescribe limiting values of consistency at these two temperatures. 60°C (140°F) approximates the maximum temperature of an asphalt pavement surface in service in the U.S. 135°C (275°F) approximates the mixing and laydown temperatures for hot mix asphalt pavements.
A measure of a liquid’s resistance to flow with respect to time.
Aggregate graded with relatively uniform proportions, from the maximum size down to filler.
The interval of time between the beginning of application of asphalt material into a pugmill and the opening of the discharge gate.
Spreaders that are attached to or are built onto dump trucks. Aggregate is fed onto the spreader disc through an adjustable opening. The speed of the disc controls the width of spread.
The ease with which paving mixtures may be placed and compacted.