Materials and Pavements

Project Objectives

Recent changes to the way states collect and report their network condition data to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has created a need for higher-quality calibration of state-owned or consultant-utilized data-collection equipment. Through Data Quality Management Plans (DQMPs) that have been developed by each state (mandated through 23 CFR 490) and approved by FHWA state Division Offices, there is a recurring need for quality measurements and subsequent high-level analysis of survey equipment. The survey equipment (such as profilometers, Laser Crack Measurement Systems, Pavement Friction Testers, Distance Measuring devices, and the like) must be calibrated and checked to ensure the quality of the data being produced meets minimum criteria. In addition, standard protocols for data collection, validation, verification, and other quality management processes must be administered, and strictly followed.

For the states in the New England that own and operate their own survey vehicles, it is critical to ensure that their data collection equipment and operations fulfill the requirements of their DQMP while not creating excessive work for agency officials. For the states outsourcing data-collection surveys, it is critical to ensure any quality management protocols used by the consultant align with both long-term agency needs and FHWA-approved state DQMPs.

Specific goals of this project:

• Review northeast state Data Quality Management Plans for pavement condition data.
• Summarize verification sites used in the northeast with potential for inter-agency sharing.
• Develop recommendations for regional efficiencies in collection and analysis of QC/QA data for each of the participating transportation agencies.
• Develop or adapt forms and macros as “Best Practices” recommendations to assist states with data reporting requirements for compliance with FHWA approved DQMPs.

Technical Committee Members

• TC Chair: John Henault, Connecticut Department of Transportation
• James Havu, Maine Department of Transportation
• Jonathan Smith, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Eric Thibodeau, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Deidre Nash, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Paul Petsching, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• Reid Kiniry, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison: Andrew Mroczkowski, Connecticut Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator: Kirsten Seeber, CTC & Associates

Project Objectives

• Synthesize existing data and develop recommendations for a rational balanced mix design (BMD) approach for use by the New England transportation agencies.
• Gaps in testing and performance data will be identified through this project and an experimental plan for required future work will be developed.

Technical Committee Members

• Joe Blair (TC Chair), New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Michael Byrne, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• David Howley, Connecticut Department of Transportation
• Matthew Courser, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Ed Naras, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Casey Nash, Maine Department of Transportation
• Aaron Schwartz, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison, Ann Scholz, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Kirsten Seeber, CTC & Associates

Implementation Activities

VT AOT will implement aspects of this project. VTrans will base their pass/fail criteria for performance test results during mix design review/approval on the anticipated traffic loads, at least for Hamburg results. NHDOT feels the lowest level of BMD may be realistic and beneficial for to implement at some point in the future. The Connecticut Advanced Pavement Lab is building a library of BMD test results, which will be implemented once the library is complete.

Tech Transfer Activities

Project Objectives

• Develop a detailed document listing Quality Assurance processes, including Agency Acceptance and Contractor Quality Control, of member states through interviews of Agency and Contractor staffs and literature review.
• Develop a regional white paper describing Quality Assurance practices for NETC constituents regarding HMA Acceptance and Quality Control testing.

Technical Committee Members

• John Grieco (Chairperson), Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Vice-Chairperson Mark Brum, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Aaron Schwartz, Vermont Agency of Transportation
• Kevin Cummings, Maine Department of Transportation
• Bob Lauzon: Connecticut Department of Transportation
• Michael Byrne, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• Denis Boisvert, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Implementation Activities

VTrans is rewriting their main HMA specifications (Sections 406 and 407) to accommodate a tiered approach and is incorporating some of the recommendations from this research. ConnDOT already has some of the project recommendations in place and will be implementing others based on a number of factors. One state would implement if there was a regional effort.

Tech Transfer Activities

Project Objectives

This project will investigate the extent of HMA pavement damage due to moisture in New England and develop recommendations for test procedures that correlate well with actual field performance.

Tasks could include:

• Identify several pavements or mixes from each state that appear to be prone to moisture damage as well as mixes that perform well.
• Document the moisture testing already being conducted by New England state DOT’s and relevant studies that support this testing.
• Obtain samples and compare the effectiveness of T 283 (the most widely used test) with T 324 (Hamburg) and the method developed using MIST-conditioned specimens in the AMPT. See which method correlates best with observed field performance.
• Recommend best practices for moisture testing of HMA pavements for New England mixes.
• Conduct testing on mixes with lime additive and liquid anti-strip to compare performance.

Technical Committee Members

• Derek Nener-Plante (Chairperson), Maine Department of Transportation
• Andy Willette, Vermont Agency of Transportation
• Beran Black, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Eliana Carlson, Connecticut Department of Transportation
• Mark Brum, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Michael Byrne, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Implementation Activities

This research reinforced MassDOT’s decision to decision to remove the TSR moisture test from its requirements and to move towards the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test. VTrans is also moving towards using the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test to determine moisture susceptibility. MaineDOT has partially implemented the results of this study. One state says the project confirms what they are already doing and two states may consider implementation in the future.

Tech Transfer Activities

Project Objectives

The goal of this research is to evaluate plant-produced HMA mixtures that contain RAS to identify the critical material properties and plant operations needed to produce RAS mixtures with fatigue and low temperature cracking properties equivalent (or better than) typical mixtures that are produced. Research objectives:

1. Determine the current state-of-practice for recycled shingle usage in paving mixtures.
2. Locate regional asphalt mixture producers in New England with capabilities and willingness to produce mixtures incorporating RAS for this study. From this list of producers, select producers so that both batch and drum plant are utilized for production.
3. Assist the selected producers in evaluating the properties of the RAS and RAP to be used in production.
4. Construct a matrix of mixtures that will be produced. An all-virgin material control mixture, 5% RAS mixture and a 5% RAS + RAP mixture will be designed.
5. Assist the selected producers in developing laboratory mixture designs utilizing RAS that meet the required volumetric criteria.
6. Produce the mixtures using a batch plant and drum plant. Produce mixtures assuming 100% blending of the RAS and virgin binder and at the calculated actual RAS binder contribution.
7. Sample the mixture at the plant and verify volumetric properties. Mixtures not meeting the volumetric properties should be produced again with alteration to the production parameters (use higher temperatures, longer silo storage or increased mixing times).
8. Construct a matrix for evaluating the performance of the mixtures with emphasis of low temperature and fatigue cracking. The matrix should contain a component to evaluate the effect of aging on the degree of blending between aged and virgin binders.
9. Identify critical material properties and plant operations that yield RAS mixtures with performance properties equivalent to typical all-virgin material mixtures.
10. Develop a guideline for the use of RAS in virgin and RAP mixtures.

Progress/Accomplishments Through March 31, 2015

• UMass Dartmouth contacted several producers of asphalt mixtures in New England about their availability and willingness to participate in the study. One contractor located in Massachusetts agreed to produce the necessary mixtures to fulfill the objectives of the study.
• Work commenced on the literature review for this project.
• UMass Dartmouth continued to contacted several producers of asphalt mixtures in New England about their availability and willingness to participate in the study. Due to inclement weather no mixtures were able to be produced this quarter.

Technical Committee Members

• Denis M. Boisvert (Chairperson), New Hampshire Department of Transportation 
• Michael Byrne, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• Leo Fontaine, Connecticut Department of Transportation
• Edmund Naras, Massachusetts Highway Department
• Derek J. Nener-Plante, Maine Department of Transportation

Project Objectives

The research project will evaluate the moisture susceptibility and low temperature cracking properties of RAP mixtures produced with WMA technologies. Plant mixtures produced with varying RAP contents and warm mix technologies will be sampled. Laboratory testing will include an evaluation of mixtures susceptibility to moisture damage using one or more of the following tests: (1) AASHTO T324 “Hamburg Wheel-Track Testing of Compacted Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)”, (2) AASHTO T-283 “Resistance of Compacted Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) to Moisture-Induced Damage”, and (3) ratio of wet to dry dynamic modulus measured at 20ºC. The test(s) selection will be based on the literature review conducted under Task 1. Also, the low temperature cracking susceptibility will be evaluated using the following two tests: (1) AASHTO TP10-93 “Standard Test Method for Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Tensile Strength (TSRST)” and (2) AASHTO T322 “Standard Method of Test for Determining the Creep Compliance and Strength of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Using the Indirect Tensile Test Device.” Additional testing will include evaluating the effect of the different WMA technologies on the workability of the mixtures and evaluating the degree of blending between the RAP binder and the virgin binder using a procedure developed by Bonaquist.

PROGRESS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH MARCH 31, 2015: 

• UMass Dartmouth hosted the project Kick-Off Meeting on February 7th, 2014. UMass Dartmouth conducted two phone meetings with two contractors (Palmer Paving – MA, & Tilcon – CT) who will produce mixtures for this study. Due to plant limitations, the batch plant mixtures may not be produced in 2014, but may be produced in 2015. The remaining mixtures are scheduled to be produced in late April or early May 2014. UMass Dartmouth will be on site during production for sampling and specimen production. A production information sheet was developed to be utilized to quantify the critical production parameters related to the mixtures.  UMass Dartmouth updated the internet survey based on the comments obtained during the Kick-Off Meeting. Subsequently, UMass Dartmouth began the process of loading the surveys onto the internet system for solicitation of responses.
• UMass Dartmouth conducted additional meetings with the two contractors, (Palmer Paving – MA, & Tilcon – CT). Based on the additional meetings, the production matrix was updated.  UMass Dartmouth updated a list of state agencies and contractors that will be targeted to complete the surveys.
• UMass Dartmouth conducted additional meetings with the two contractors, (Palmer Paving – MA, & Tilcon – CT) to determine when the mixtures will be produced. Each responded they will be produced in the fall of 2014. In September 2014, UMass Dartmouth formally requested a no additional cost time extension for this project of twelve month (new end date 9/15/2016). The basis of the request is that the contractors have not produced or provided the mixtures required for this study. Recently, the contractors informed the PI that the mixtures should be produced very soon in the fall of 2014. Therefore, an extension is needed as the testing will require sixteen months for completion (as listed in the proposal). UMass Dartmouth is waiting for a response on this time extension request.  UMass Dartmouth continued work on Task 1: Literature Review and Task 2: Determine Critical Information (Survey).
• Tilcon CT produced 12.5mm mixtures required for this study on 10/11/14. UMass Dartmouth was on-site during production to sample each mixture and document production parameters (RAP moisture content, etc.). UMass Dartmouth began verifying the volumetric properties of each produced mixture. The mixtures verified did not meet the volumetric properties. The contractor assured UMass Dartmouth that these mixtures will be reproduced again during spring 2015.
• UMass Dartmouth contacted Tilcon CT about reproducing the mixtures produced in October 2014 that did not meet the required volumetric properties.
• UMass Dartmouth contacted the other contractor (Palmer Paving) who agreed to produce mixture for this study. This contractor stated that they will produce the mixtures in April or May 2015.
•  An additional contractor was contacted (PJ Keating) to determine if they would help with producing the mixtures for this study in the event one of the selected contractors cannot supply the mixtures.

Technical Committee Members

• Denis M. Boisvert (Chairperson), New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Michael Byrne, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• Bryan Engstrom, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• David J. Kilpatrick, Connecticut Department of Transportation