Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2) Components of a Quality Control Plan
About Quality Assurance 3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
4) Testing Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
Danny Gierhart, P.E.
ASPHALT 5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis
ACADEMY
Asphalt Institute 6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis
Senior Regional Engineer
Tuttle, OK
7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria
WEBINAR
1 2
Why Quality Assurance?
1) The Basics of Quality Assurance Long‐term performance costs money
2) Components of a Quality Control Plan • Quality pavement design
• Quality materials
3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
• Quality production
4) Testing Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
• Quality placement and compaction
5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis
6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis
7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria
3 4
National Certification Programs Types of Acceptance Specifications
• Method Specifications
– Common in older specs
– Also called “recipe specifications”
– Extreme agency control
• Materials
• Equipment
• Construction methods
– Obligates agency to accept work regardless of
quality
5 6
1
Types of Acceptance Specifications Types of Acceptance Specifications
• Quality‐Assurance
• End‐Result Specifications
– QC by contractor
– Less agency control
– Acceptance by agency or their
– Contractor takes responsibility for supplying representative
quality product
– Usually statistically based
– What does “good quality” look like?
– Agency takes responsibility to accept, reject, or
apply pay adjustment
– Allows more contractor initiative and innovation
7 8
Types of Acceptance Specifications Understanding the Terms
• Performance Specifications
– How the finish product should perform over time
“all planned and systematic actions
– Predetermined parameters and timeframes
necessary to provide confidence that a
– Warranty clauses are a form of these specs
product or facility will perform satisfactorily
• Combinations of all these specification types in service. QA includes the elements of
are common quality control (QC), acceptance,
independent assurance, dispute resolution,
laboratory accreditation, and personnel
TRB Circular E‐C173 certification.”
9 10
Understanding the Terms Understanding the Terms
11 12
2
Understanding the Terms Understanding the Terms
“activities that are an unbiased and “Also called conflict resolution. For QA
independent evaluation of all the sampling programs permitting the use of
and testing (or inspection) procedures used contractor test results in the acceptance
in the QA program.” decision, an agreed‐upon procedure to
resolve conflicts resulting from
discrepancies, between agency and
contractor results, of sufficient magnitude
TRB Circular E‐C173 TRB Circular E‐C173 to have an impact on payment.”
13 14
Understanding the Terms Understanding the Terms
TRB Circular E‐C173 TRB Circular E‐C173
15 16
Written Quality Control Plan
A written plan specifying:
1) The Basics of Quality Assurance • Who is responsible for reviewing QC
2) Components of a Quality Control Plan • How plant and QC lab meet requirements
3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures • What will be sampled
• Where the samples will be obtained
4) Testing Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
• How the samples will be obtained
5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis • Who will obtain the samples
6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis • How many samples will be obtained
7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria • What will be done with the samples
• Criteria used to address out of spec material
• How the results will be documented and shared
17 18
3
Example QC Sampling and Testing Plan Trial Batch
Test Sample Point Test Method, Test Method, Sample Estimated No. of A limited plant run before full
Parameter / Method AASHTO ASTM Frequency Quantity Tests production begins:
Cold Feed • can be voluntary or required
Aggregate • should be done before every project
Belt, T11, T 27 1000 tons 28,000 tons 28
Gradation
ASTM D 75 • sample results demonstrate whether plant
Plant or is capable of producing the mix within specs
Asphalt • allows contractor and agency technicians to
Truck, T 308 1000 tons 28,000 tons 28
Content
ASTM D 140 ensure acceptably consistent results on a
Plant or split sample
Laboratory T 312, T 166, − allows opportunity to make any
Truck, 1000 tons 28,000 tons 28
Air Voids T 209, T 269 necessary plant/mix adjustments to get
ASTM D 140
Roadway Pavement T 166, T 209, mix in spec before project construction
D 2950 1000 feet 53,000 feet 53 − allows time to reconcile any differences
Compaction Surface T 269, T 331
in testing before full production begins
19 20
Test Strip
A limited placement run before full
production begins: 1) The Basics of Quality Assurance
• short length of pavement, e.g. 500 tons or 1000 ft 2) Components of a Quality Control Plan
• constructed with same equipment and materials
used for project 3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
• usually on the project, but may be constructed
elsewhere 4) Testing Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
• allows contractor to fine‐tune procedures for
obtaining proper compaction 5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis
− also allows another opportunity to check that
mix is still in spec
6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis
• if proper compaction still not obtained by end of 7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria
test strip, additional test strips can be constructed
before full production begins
21 22
Representative Samples Understanding the Terms
A critical concept in any sampling and testing plan is that the
samples must be representative of the materials used.
“A specific quantity of material from a
If the samples do not represent the materials used, there is single source which is assumed to be
no point in testing them. produced or placed by the same controlled
Exception: Samples may be taken and tested from work that process.”
is obviously non‐uniform to address specific problems.
However, these samples should never be averaged in with
regular acceptance test results.
TRB Circular E‐C173
23 24
4
Why split into lots? Lot Intervals
Production is typically split up into “lots” to better assess Lot intervals are determined differently for different types
the day‐to‐day quality of the work. of work. They are generally measured in one of 3 ways:
For example, if only material from lot 9 of 20 was of 1) Time intervals ‐ common intervals are 1/2 day’s
rejectable quality, why penalize the entire project? production or full day’s production
2) Quantity intervals ‐ common intervals are 1,000 tons
up to 10,000 tons, depending on anticipated
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
production rates
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
3) Distance intervals ‐ common intervals are 1,000 feet
to 10,000 feet
25 26
Random Sampling
A key component of obtaining a representative sample of any
Polling Question construction material is the concept of random sampling.
Random means that all parts of the lot of material have an
equal chance of being included in the sample.
Random sampling helps ensure an unbiased sample is obtained.
27 28
Stratified‐Random Sampling Stratified‐Random Sampling
ASTM D 3665 provides the standard practice for random
sampling of construction materials.
It suggests that the best and most practical method of
ensuring that samples include the full range of construction One lot with nine random samples
is a process called stratified‐random sampling.
In a practical sense, this practice separates lots into equally‐
sized sublots.
One lot with nine random samples stratified into three
sublots
29 30
5
Example: Random Sampling by Tonnage Sampling Asphalt Mixtures
Sample Ton Sample Ton Samples must be obtained using a standard,
Lot ‐ Sublot Random Tons /
Number in Number
Number Number Sublot documented procedure for the best chance at
Lot Cumulatively
1‐1 0.7101 1000 710.1 710.1 getting a truly representative sample.
1‐2 0.9632 1000 963.2 1963.2
1‐3 0.2637 1000 263.7 2263.7
Loose samples of mixture from AASHTO R 97 /
1‐4 0.3199 1000 319.9 3319.9
plant, trucks, or roadway ASTM D 979
2‐1 0.8711 1000 871.1 4871.1
2‐2 0.3072 1000 307.2 5307.2
Compacted samples of mixture AASHTO R 67 /
2‐3 0.3000 1000 300.0 6300.0
from roadway ASTM D 5361
2‐4 0.4061 1000 406.1 7406.1
MS‐22
One way to get random numbers is to use Microsoft Excel to generate them by typing
Section 10.3.3
=RAND() in the cell in which you want the random number to appear.
31 32
• From a conveyor belt using a sampling template (section 5.5) Procedure (section 4)
• From transport units (section 5.6) • Allow asphalt to cool ‐ may use ice,
• From the paver auger (section 5.7) water, etc. to speed cooling
• From a windrow (section 5.8) • Use water to minimize heat caused by
• From the roadway before compaction (section 5.9) barrel friction
• From the paver or MTV hopper (section 5.10) • Keep core barrel perpendicular to
surface, apply constant pressure
• From stockpiles (section 5.11)
• Clearly label each core
• Fill the core hole when finished!
33 34
Why test?
Asphalt mixtures supplied by the plant are tested to
1) The Basics of Quality Assurance make sure they are the same mix that was designed in
2) Components of a Quality Control Plan the lab and approved for use on the project.
3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures Date 7/30/2016
Project MC-114B(72)
Contractor
Mix Type 12.5mm Superpave
=
Natural Sand F. Bean Pit @ Newcastle, OK 15
5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis PG 70-28 OK
Liquid Anti-Strip
Fox Asphalt @ Wewoka, OK
Petey Bros. LA-6B @ Austin, TX
6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis Sieve
Size
19.0mm
12.5mm
5/8"
Chips
100
88
5/8"
Chips
100
90
Scrns
100
100
Stone
Sand
100
100
Sand
100
100
Allowable
Min.
-
90
Max.
100
100
Comb.
Agg.
100
95
JMF
100
95
%
Tol.
0
±7
9.5mm 56 62 100 100 97 - 90 81 81 ±7
7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria 4.75mm
2.36mm
1.18mm
600m
5
3
3
3
6
4
3
3
75
50
32
22
98
69
35
16
85
72
56
36
-
28
-
-
-
58
-
-
47
34
22
14
47
34
22
14
±7
±5
±4
±4
300m 2 2 16 8 23 - - 9 9 ±4
150m 2 2 12 6 11 - - 6 6 ±3
75m 1.5 1.7 10.5 3.9 6.1 2 10 4.7 4.7 ±2
35 36
6
Variability Tests commonly performed for QA
Asphalt test results are not always exactly the same Aggregate Gradation
from sample to sample or from lab to lab due to
variability.
Gradation on
extracted or
burn‐off
Ignition oven to obtain Solvent extraction to aggregate
The material There is variability There is variability aggregate sample from obtain aggregate sample from
itself is variable in the sampling in the testing plant mix sample from plant mix plant mix
from spot to spot process process AASHTO T 308 AASHTO T 164 AASHTO T 30
ASTM D 6307 ASTM D 2172 ASTM D 5444
37 38
Tests commonly performed for QA Tests commonly performed for QA
Aggregate Gradation Aggregate Gradation
Date 7/30/2016 Mix Type 12.5mm Superpave Design # 12.5SP716
Does an aggregate sample Date 7/30/2016 Mix Type 12.5mm Superpave Design # 12.5SP716
Project MC-114B(72)
Contractor Boggis Const. Co., Inc.
Highway SH-39
Producer
ESALs 3M+
Bunce Asphalt Co.
obtained from the plant mix Project MC-114B(72)
Contractor Boggis Const. Co., Inc.
Highway SH-39
Producer
ESALs 3M+
Bunce Asphalt Co.
% Asphalt Cement
% Liquid Anti-Strip
5.0
0.5
± 0.4
-
the percentages used are off % Asphalt Cement
% Liquid Anti-Strip
5.0
0.5
± 0.4
-
39 40
Tests commonly performed for QA Tests commonly performed for QA
Asphalt Binder Content Asphalt Binder Content
Date 7/30/2016 Mix Type 12.5mm Superpave Design # 12.5SP716
Does an asphalt binder content
Project MC-114B(72)
Contractor Boggis Const. Co., Inc.
Highway SH-39
Producer
ESALs 3M+
Bunce Asphalt Co.
obtained from the plant mix
Material Type Material Source % USED
match the design JMF?
5/8" Chips Anderson @ Shawnee, OK 18
5/8" Chips Ash Quarry @ Norman, OK 29
Screenings Anderson @ Shawnee, OK 23
Stone Sand
Natural Sand
Anderson @ Shawnee, OK
F. Bean Pit @ Newcastle, OK
15
15
YES
PG 70-28 OK Fox Asphalt @ Wewoka, OK The plant is successfully
Liquid Anti-Strip Petey Bros. LA-6B @ Austin, TX
duplicating the design regarding
Anderson Ash Anderson Anderson F. Bean
Sieve
Size
5/8"
Chips
5/8"
Chips Scrns
Stone
Sand Sand
Allowable
Min. Max.
Comb.
Agg. JMF
%
Tol.
total binder content.
19.0mm 100 100 100 100 100 - 100 100 100 0
12.5mm 88 90 100 100 100 90 100 95 95 ±7
9.5mm
4.75mm
56
5
62
6
100
75
100
98
97
85
-
-
90
-
81
47
81
47
±7
±7
NO
Ignition oven to obtain Solvent extraction to Nuclear gauge to obtain 2.36mm
1.18mm
3
3
4
3
50
32
69
35
72
56
28
-
58
-
34
22
34
22
±5
±4 • possibly wrong mix
% binder content from obtain % binder content % binder content from 600m
300m
3
2
3
2
22
16
16
8
36
23
-
-
-
-
14
9
14
9
±4
±4 • bad plant setting / calibration
plant mix from plant mix plant mix 150m 2 2 12 6 11 - - 6 6 ±3
75m 1.5 1.7 10.5 3.9 6.1 2 10 4.7 4.7 ±2 • low ‐ may be coarse split
AASHTO T 308 AASHTO T 164 AASHTO T 287 % Asphalt Cement 5.0 ± 0.4 • high ‐ may be fine split
ASTM D 6307 ASTM D 2172 ASTM D 4125 % Liquid Anti-Strip 0.5 -
41 42
7
Tests commonly performed for QA Specific Gravity Testing → Air Voids
Asphalt Binder Content A material’s specific gravity is the number of times it weighs relative to
Date 7/30/2016 Mix Type 12.5mm Superpave Design # 12.5SP716
the equivalent volume of water. The two most common specific gravity
Project MC-114B(72) Highway SH-39 ESALs 3M+
Contractor Boggis Const. Co., Inc. Producer Bunce Asphalt Co. tests for asphalt mixtures are:
Material Type
5/8" Chips
5/8" Chips
Material Source
Anderson @ Shawnee, OK
Ash Quarry @ Norman, OK
% USED
18
29
• Bulk specific gravity (Gmb) – performed on compacted specimens,
Screenings
Stone Sand
Anderson @ Shawnee, OK
Anderson @ Shawnee, OK
23
15 includes air voids
• Maximum theoretical specific gravity (Gmm) – performed on loose
Natural Sand F. Bean Pit @ Newcastle, OK 15
43 44
Bulk Specific Gravity Testing Air Voids vs. Density
A compacted mix sample’s bulk specific gravity (Gmb) is
typically determined using one of the following tests:
• AASHTO T 166
• ASTM D 2726 % Air Voids = 100 ‐ % Density
These methods should not be used with samples
that contain open or interconnecting air voids or
absorb more than 2.0% water by volume. (OGFC,
PFC, low‐density coarse mixes, etc.) % Density = 100 ‐ % Air Voids
• Use T 275 (Paraffin‐Coating Specimens) or T 331
(CoreLok) for those types of specimens
45 46
Lab‐Molded Density vs. Roadway Density
47 48
8
Job‐mix formula verification
Quality control of plant production involves three key
Testing and analyzing the field‐produced mixture to verify
areas:
that the criteria established in the mix design and
1) Verifying the job‐mix formula specifications are being met.
2) Documenting and organizing the quality • Initial differences between the mix design in the
control data that is generated on a daily basis laboratory and the field‐produced mixture are common.
3) Adjusting the production process when • Field‐produced mixtures tend to have lower air void
necessary contents and VMA values than the JMF targets.
49 50
51 52
Documentation and Organization Documentation and Organization
A practice that provides a picture of mix quality over time is the use of It is very important that quality assurance test data is
Control Charts.
quickly reported and analyzed.
Asphalt Content, %
5.8 UCL
5.5 Target
5.2 LCL
* One lane, 14’ wide, 2” thick, typical Superpave mix
53 54
9
Data Analysis Data Analysis
On the other hand, be cautious about making procedural When multiple data points are out of spec, they may be
or production adjustments based on a single test result. inter‐related.
A single out of spec test result could be due
to any number of things: Adjustment to only one item at a time is
• actually out of spec recommended.
• poor sample Multiple, concurrent adjustments can
• testing error cancel each other out and produce:
• human error • no net change to the mix
It may be prudent to quickly obtain and test • a drastic change to the mix
a second sample to verify results before an
adjustment is made.
55 56
Plant Adjustments
Sometimes the QC data indicates that a plant adjustment is necessary.
This can be a decision authorized by the contractor or supplier’s own QC
1) The Basics of Quality Assurance
personnel. 2) Components of a Quality Control Plan
Agencies often establish adjustment criteria: 3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
• action limit – if test results fall outside of established criteria, the producer 4) Testing Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
is required to make an adjustment to bring the material back within
tolerances. Production may continue while adjustments are made. 5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis
• suspension limit – if test results fall outside of wider established criteria, 6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis
the producer is required to make an adjustment to bring the material back 7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria
within tolerances. The producer must immediately stop production and
bring material back into tolerances before production can be resumed.
57 58
Primary Quality Factors for Placement
The primary quality factors for placement of mix are:
1) Temperature Polling Question
2) Compaction
3) Thickness
4) Smoothness
Pay special attention to these quality factors!
59 60
10
Temperature Temperature
Everyone should be aware of any minimum ambient or Why does it matter if the existing asphalt surface temperature or
pavement surface temperature requirements, for example: the ambient temperature is too cool?
Because the asphalt mixture in a truck retains its heat well as long as it
Lift Thickness, in Min. Surface Temp., °F is in a large mass. Once it is placed in a thin mat on the roadway, it
begins to lose heat rapidly – the thinner the lift, the quicker the heat is
or something
>3 40 like, “ambient lost from the mix.
temperature Placing the mat on a surface or in an
2-3 45 must be at
environment that is already cold
<2 50 least 50°F and
makes the heat dissipate even more
rising”
quickly, making it very difficult to
properly compact.
61 62
Temperature Temperature
Temperature is key in all phases of asphalt design and Why does it matter if the mix is too hot?
construction. During placement, there are several key Because the lighter fractions of the asphalt binder evaporate at high
areas the inspector should monitor several times daily: temperatures.
1) Plant discharge This makes the remaining binder stiffer, and causes early aging of the
temperature binder. Aged binder tends to be more brittle, and more susceptible to
cracking.
Typically specified as a
maximum allowable
temperature – usually 325°F,
potentially up to 350°F. Check
your local specifications.
63 64
Temperature Temperature
Another key area that should be monitored several times
What should people on the job site do if the mix arrives daily:
at the job site at more than the maximum allowable
temperature? 2) Temperature of the mix
immediately behind the paver
Do not allow the mix to Typically specified as a minimum allowable
be laid on the project temperature – usually 250°F. Check your
and send the truck local specifications. There may be a different
minimum temperature for Warm Mix Asphalt.
away! *
This is important because heat makes the mix
workable enough for optimum compaction.
* Make sure you understand the owner’s policy first! Send trucks back that arrive too cool.
65 66
11
Temperature Measuring Temperature
Temperature is key in all phases of asphalt design and Because temperature is key in all phases of asphalt design
construction. During placement, there are several key and construction, the inspector should understand which
areas that should be monitored several times daily: temperature‐measuring devices are applicable for which
3) Temperature by which to finish situation. The most common are:
compaction operations
Typically specified as a maximum allowable
• Ambient Thermometers
temperature – usually 180°F. Check your local
specifications.
• Surface Dial Thermometers
This is important because continuing rolling • Infrared Thermometers
may break aggregate or otherwise harm the
mix after it becomes stiff from cooling. • Probe Thermometers
67 68
Measuring Temperature Measuring Temperature
Measuring Ambient Temperature Measuring Pavement Surface Temperature
• Some specifications have requirements regarding
ambient (the surrounding air) temperature
• Sometimes the specifications direct the temperature to
be taken in the shade to avoid artificially high readings
due to solar radiation
• Asphalt inspectors will probably need an armored case These thermometers are simply placed on the surface and read after they stabilize. They
like the one pictured to protect the thermometer from work by the expansion and contraction with temperature of a wound metal coil on the back.
the severities of on‐the‐job conditions Note that these gauges have different readings. The most accurate readings are obtained
when the high limit is closer to the temperature you are measuring. Also notice that on these
models, the outer readings are in Fahrenheit and the inner readings are in Celsius.
69 70
Measuring Temperature Measuring Temperature
Measuring Interior Mix Temperature Measuring Pavement Surface
and Outer Mix Temperature
Infrared guns are a very popular tool for inspectors.
Be aware that these devices measure only the outer
Getting an accurate internal surface of a mix, which may be significantly cooler
mix temperature requires a than the mix interior. These are suitable for:
• the pavement surface just behind the screed
probe of some sort to get before a roller gets on it (soapy water used to keep
past the cooled outer the rollers clean cools down the pavement surface)
• the mix as is it falls onto the slat conveyor at the
surface of the mix. plant or as it is dumped into the paver hopper from
the truck
71 72
12
Compaction Control Compaction Control
Monitoring roadway density during construction is vital to achieve and maintain compaction quality. How is compaction quality typically controlled?
PROS CONS • QC uses quick results from a nuclear or non‐nuclear density gauge to
Roadway
The “gold standard.” Roadway cores
Coring leaves holes in the brand new initially direct compaction operations
Cores road, which need to be patched.
give the most accurate evaluation of
It takes several hours at minimum • QA typically cuts and tests roadway cores for acceptance
compaction quality.
from beginning to end to get results.
• QC tests core sites with density gauge before core is cut
Nuclear Results can be obtained in a minute or
two. Results are not necessarily accurate • QC compares core results with density gauges results
Gauge unless correlated with roadway cores.
Easy to bring to job site and to use.
Requires compliance with radiation ‐ QC makes informal comparison, or
Can test multiple sites quickly without safety regulations.
marring pavement. ‐ QC makes formal correlation using some type of specified method –
Non‐Nuclear Results can be obtained immediately. offset, linear regression, etc.
Results are not necessarily accurate
Gauge Easy to bring to job site and to use. unless correlated with roadway cores. • QC directs ongoing compaction operations using density gauge readings
Can test multiple sites quickly without Moisture affects readings.
marring pavement. and results from informal comparison or formal correlation
73 74
Compaction Control Thickness Control
If poor compaction results are being obtained, the inspector should work with the
paving crew primarily in three areas: During Laydown Operations
• temperature of the mix when arriving on the project and temperature at
compaction • for dense‐graded mixes,
‐ If the mix arrives too cool (or too hot), the paving crew may not be able to uncompacted thickness typically
achieve proper compaction even when using best practices
‐ If the paver moves forward quicker than the rollers can complete their slow,
1.25X desired final thickness
steady rolling patterns, the mat in between can lose temperature quickly • gap‐graded and open‐graded
• disciplined adherence to good rolling technique
• consistent roller patterns for the current project conditions
mixes may be 1.15X
‐ as environmental conditions change throughout the day, as different mixtures • uses depth gauge
are used, as lift thicknesses change, or as base conditions change, new roller
patterns may need to be developed for optimum compaction
75 76
Thickness Control Thickness Control
During Laydown Operations
For Acceptance
• most agencies pay for mix by weight (typically “tons”) instead of by thickness
• roadway cores cut • inspector needs to ensure that contractor does not over‐run or under‐run plan quantity
‐ may use “average thickness” ‐ the plan quantities were miscalculated at the design stage
‐ the contractor placed the mat too thin
‐ may have tolerance, i.e. “± 0.1 inch” ‐ the contractor placed the mat too narrow
‐ may have absolute minimum ‐ the actual mix unit weight was less than the unit weight used to calculate plan
quantities
77 78
13
Checking Yield Easiest way to calculate yield
To calculate the yield, you need the following information: Calculate the number of tons of material it takes according
to plan criteria to go 1 foot. After that, simply multiply
Information Needed Where to Get It that number times the number of feet laid and compare to
The plan unit weight * The plans the cumulative tons on the truck tickets. This calculation
The plan width The plans can be performed in the office before construction begins.
The plan lift thickness The plans
The cumulative tons used The truck tickets
The length of the lane to where your Estimate where last truck ran out Plan width
calculations begin minus beginning station
* This is the unit weight used to calculate pay quantities for the plans. It will likely be 1’
different than the actual mix unit weight. Plan thickness
79 80
When the Actual Tonnage > Planned Tonnage When the Actual Tonnage < Planned Tonnage
• Either the mix is being laid too wide or too thick or • Either the mix is not being laid wide enough or it is too
both. If the paving continues in this manner, you will thin or both. If the paving continues in this manner, you
either have to shorten the project length or overrun will end up with a pavement thickness less than the
the plan quantity. designed thickness, which will be subject to premature
• Check the lane width. If it is too wide behind the failure. If the actual lane widths are not wide enough,
screed, have the paving crew decrease the paving there could be safety problems.
width to the correct lane width. • Check the lane width. If it is not wide enough behind the
• Be aware that tender mixes can merely spread out screed, have the paving crew increase the paving width to
instead of gaining density, which tends to make the the correct lane width.
lifts too thin. A change may need to be made in the • If the width is correct, ask the paver operator to increase
roller operation. the lift thickness to the plan thickness
• If the width is correct, ask the paver operator to • If you are still under‐running, check with your supervisor
decrease the lift thickness slightly until subsequent regarding whether they prefer to increase the lift
yield checks indicate that the actual tonnage is thickness or increase the project length.
approximately equal to the planned tonnage
81 82
Smoothness Control Smoothness Control
Typical Smoothness Measures 10’ Straight Edge
• 10’ straight edge • typically spot checks
• usually required in both longitudinal and
• Profilograph transverse directions
• Inertial profiler • straight edge laid on pavement surface,
deviations measured and recorded Straight edges sometimes come with
As an inspector, you will see one or more of measuring wedges, as shown in the
• common spec – “no bumps or dips
these on your projects. You should have a illustration. They slide under the bar in
greater than 1/8” when measured from
basic understanding of what they are and areas with bumps or dips, and the
two outer edges of straight edge
how they work. magnitude of the deviation can be read
directly from the wedge.
83 84
14
Smoothness Control Smoothness Control
Inertial Profiler
Profilograph • A device that uses laser sensors to measure the profile
• used at project level to check initial pavement smoothness of a pavement surface; data stored in computer
• Low speed; manually pushed, continuous measurement • used with some smoothness index, usually
• requires lane closure for safety International Roughness Index (IRI) – the higher the
• straight frame with support wheels on each end IRI, the rougher the ride
• center wheel rides up and down on bumps, dips, measuring • highway speeds; usually attached to a truck or van,
deviations from plane smoothness continuous measurement
• deviations are added up over some standard distance (e.g.
• does not require lane closure for safety
“inches per mile”) and must be below specified limit
• “exclusion” areas include areas where paving may be • can be used at project level and network level
interrupted (bridges, etc.) • lightweight versions for testing at lower speeds,
project level only, can be operated using a golf cart,
ATV, or similar vehicle
85 86
Common Acceptance Tests
For the asphalt mixture:
1) The Basics of Quality Assurance • aggregate gradation
2) Components of a Quality Control Plan • percent binder content, Pb
• percent air voids, Pa
3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures • VMA
4) Testing Methods for Asphalt Mixtures For asphalt mix placement:
5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis • percent roadway density
• smoothness
6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis • thickness
7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria
We should understand how these factors contribute to the
quality and longevity of the pavement
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Reference Density Reference Density
We should be aware that percent roadway density may The chart below shows how the numbers will vary depending on which
be a percentage of different references, depending on the reference is specified.
agency.
By far the most common is a percentage of the maximum Once a reference
density is chosen,
density, which is recommended by the Asphalt Institute. the same reference
density should be
A few agencies may specify roadway density as a used throughout
percentage of the lab‐molded density. the project
A few agencies may specify roadway density as a
percentage of the control strip density.
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Method Specifications for Compaction REVIEW
For reasons of cost and/or difficulty in obtaining a viable sample,
sometimes quality of compaction is assessed using a method compaction 1) The Basics of Quality Assurance
specification rather than direct testing.
2) Components of a Quality Control Plan
Thin lifts, leveling courses, OGFCs, and non‐uniform lifts are often assessed
by method specifications. 3) Sampling Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
Method specifications often include such requirements as
4) Testing Methods for Asphalt Mixtures
• a certain number, type, and size of rollers to be used 5) Plant Production Quality Control Data Analysis
• a given number of roller passes for each roller 6) Placement Quality Control Data Analysis
• compaction must take place in a certain temperature range
7) Acceptance Tests and Acceptance Criteria
• surface is rolled until it is free of marks
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2020 Asphalt Institute Members
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