Properties of Asphalt Cement Used in Virginia and Their Effects on Pavement Performance

About the report:

Results of usual tests for specification compliance and special tests to show viscosity-temperature susceptibility and ductility penetration relationships for asphalts supplied for use by the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation in 1983 are reported. The results to date have not revealed any asphalts with unusual properties. Differences in viscosity-temperature susceptibilities of products from different suppliers were relatively small. The results also indicate that satisfactory performance of properly designed and placed mixtures would be expected with all of these products, but a firm conclusion to this affect cannot be drawn until the ability of the asphalts to adhere to aggregates is determined. Such tests are planned. The addition of a requirement to asphalt cement specifications that the ash not exceed 0.40 percent is recommended. Such a requirement would provide protection against products from unusual refining processes that contain appreciable amounts of organic sodium salts.

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