Title page for ETD etd-04202011-160003

Type of Document

Master's Thesis

Author

Cooper III, Samuel Booth

Author's Email Address

scoop15@lsu.edu

URN

etd-04202011-160003

Title

Evaluation of Volumetric and Mechanistic Properites of Asphalt Mixtures: Laboratory vs. Field

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)

Department

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Mohammad, Louay N.	Committee Chair
Elseifi, Mostafa	Committee Member
Shin, Hak-Chul	Committee Member

Keywords

sample type
contractor
state
asphalt mixture
variability

Date of Defense

2011-03-21

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

The maintenance and growth of the United States infrastructure is vital to the economic,
social, and cultural success of the country. For this reason significant resources must be
allocated to ensure adequate paving mixtures are designed, produced, and constructed. A critical
issue that has received considerable attention in recent years is to identify and quantify causes,
sources, and levels of variability in volumetric and mechanical properties of the mixture. This
requires evaluation of three possible scenarios for production of asphalt mixture specimens: (1)
laboratory mixed and laboratory compacted specimens (LL), (2) plant mixed and laboratory
compacted specimens (PL), and (3) plant mixed and field compacted specimens (PF). The
objective of this project was to quantify sources and causes of variability in the measurements of
volumetric and mechanical properties of dense-graded asphalt mixtures for three types of
specimens. This was accomplished by collecting and reviewing published and unpublished
national information on studies conducted to evaluate the variability of volumetric and
mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures, and current practices adopted by the states to
incorporate variability in the specifications. The researcher surveyed highway agencies and
contractors that may have been able to provide data. Statistical analyses, including a metaanalysis
were conducted based on the collected data. This research reports levels of variability
for a wide range of volumetric and mechanical properties. Also, the levels of variability were
comparable for various state departments of transportations (DOTs) located in different climatic
regions. Additionally, nominal maximum aggregate size (NMS) of asphalt mixtures appears to
influence the levels of variability observed for the various volumetric and mechanical properties.
This report finds additional research is required to determine the cause of the variation between
the three sample types with respect to process-based factors.

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