Modern asphalt pavement performance testing has quickly evolved into simple physical testing procedures with intensive and complex analyses of collected data.
To facilitate larger adoption of the testing protocols and associated data analysis by both the private industry and DOTs, engineers in the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) have created the Rutgers Asphalt Analysis Took Pack (RAAT-Pack). The software can provide analysis for several asphalt performance testing specifications by uploading an input file and clicking “Run”. The software alleviates errors and decreases the time required for data analysis.
Tests performed:
- Intermediate Temperature Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) testing is an innovative crack resistance test for asphalt pavements. It uses a semi-circular (half-moon) shaped asphalt sample with an initiated crack to determine further resistance to cracking analyzing the load and displacement data.
- Cold Temperature Semi-Circular Bend is utilized to determine the low temperature crack resistance of asphalt pavements using a semi-circular shaped asphalt sample. Low temperature crack resistance is calculated based on the load and displacement data collected throughout the test.
- Ideal-CT testing is a crack resistance test that utilizes a full size Superpave Gyratory Compacted sample and line loading. Crack resistance is calculated using the load and displacement data from the test.
- The Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA) Rutting is a wheel track test that utilizes a steel wheel tracking over a rubber hose to simulate traffic loading. This test is used to determine early life rutting in asphalt pavements.
- Direct Compact Tension (DCT) is a low temperature crack resistance test. This test method utilizes a circular specimen with a single edge notch loaded in tension to determine the fracture energy which can be used to help determine fracture resistance.
-
High
Temperature Indirect Tensile Strength (HT-IDT) is
a modified version of standard IDT testing using a higher conditioning and
testing temperature. This test method
utilizes a cylindrical sample loaded across its vertical diametral plane, to
determine the peak load at failure to calculate the IDT strength.
-
Bond Strength Testing is a direct shear test that is utilized to characterize the adhesion between two asphalt pavement layers. This test is typically performed on asphalt pavement cores from in service pavements utilizing six inch diameter cores. The peak load and dimensions are used to calculate the maximum adhesive force.
Potential Users:
Many Department of Transportation’s (DOTs) across the country require the tests performed by the RAAT-Pack software before an asphalt mixture can be used for paving. This means that all industry partners involved with or requiring asphalt pavement performance testing can benefit from use of the software.
Advantages:
This software was developed to perform analyses on several different asphalt performance tests. Other solutions analyze a single testing procedure.
Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation
Rutgers
CAIT is an University Transportation Center, an elite group of academic
research institutions that are sanctioned and supported by the U.S. Department
of Transportation.
RAAT-Pack
requires Matlab software to operate.