Evaluation of Thick Lift Asphalt Paving

About the project:

When paving asphalt mixtures in a deep pathing application, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) currently recommends a maximum asphalt layer thickness that is approximately 3-4 times the mixture nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS). For a typical asphalt mixture used in patching operations having a NMAS of 19 or 25 mm, the maximum recommended lift thickness is approximately 3 to 4 inches. In cases where deeper distresses are encountered, it would be beneficial to place layers having a greater thickness than these recommendations. It is expected that allowing thicker lifts will provide the contractor an opportunity to complete the work in a reduced time versus having to place the asphalt mixture in multiple layers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mechanical and volumetric properties of typical 19 and 25 mm NMAS asphalt mixtures placed in a single 6-inch-thick layer. These properties will be assessed through a combination of laboratory testing as well as through full-scale accelerated testing. 

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