ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 4 April 2005
Page Count: 6

Use of HMA Stiffness Results as a Referee Test in Indiana

McDaniel, RS
Technical Director, North Central Superpave Center, West Lafayette, IN

Gallivan, VL
Pavement and Materials Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Indiana Division, Indianapolis, IN

Huber, GA
Associate Director of Research, Heritage Research Group, Indianapolis, IN

Andrewski, DH
Materials Engineer and Chief, Division of Materials and Tests, Indianapolis, IN

Miller, M
Materials Engineer and Chief, Division of Materials and Tests, Indianapolis, IN

(Received 1 December 2003; accepted 23 September 2004)

Abstract

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) began implementing volumetric acceptance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures in 2001. In some cases the air void contents of the plant-produced mixtures have been less than 2.0%. Rather than require removal and replacement of low air void mixes in all cases, INDOT implemented an optional referee testing procedure. This procedure allows contractors to leave low air void material in place, at reduced pay, if the stiffness of the placed material is equal to or greater than a specified minimum. If the stiffness is less, that sublot must be removed and replaced. The rationale is that if the stiffness is high enough, even if the air voids are low, the material would be expected to perform adequately. If the low air voids are accompanied by low stiffness, rutting performance would likely be compromised. This paper describes the rationale, development, and implementation of this program.

Keywords:
hot mix asphalt, air voids, stiffness, volumetric acceptance, referee testing, frequency sweep

Paper ID: JAI12261
DOI: 10.1520/JAI12261
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