VARIABILITY IN TEMPERATURE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ASPHALT CEMENT

Temperature susceptibility of asphalt cement is an important control parameter during the mixing, placing, compaction, and performance of asphaltic concrete. Early methods of measuring this characteristic involved the use of needle penetration devices. Viscosity began to appear in specifications in the 1920's. Today's specifications often make use of viscosity and penetration measurements at 140 F and 275 F both before and after laboratory aging. Recent testing equipment developments have made low temperature (20 F) viscosity measurements possible, adding to the ability to determine temperature susceptibility of asphalt cements. There does not appear to be one generally accepted measurement method for this particular characteristic of asphalts; however, the report describes several methods that have been used. The primary task of the study--to collect and analyze temperature susceptibility data--was accomplished by (1) the review and summarization of data from several published reports by such agencies as The Pennsylvania State University, the Federal Highway Administration, the Asphalt Institute, and several states; and (2) the laboratory testing of selected asphalt cements from individual refineries and field construction projects. The published literature indicates that the physical properties, including temperature susceptibility, of asphalt cements produced in recent years have the same range of values as those produced in 1964 and during the 1965-1973 preembargo period. Mean values and their distributions for particular physical and chemical properties have varied over the years on a national and regional basis. However, the published literature contains little information on relationships between the variations in asphalt cement properties and pavement construction and performance problems. Detailed asphalt test data were obtained from 5 states representing 23 refineries in all regions of the United States. A statistical analysis of the data indicates a significant variability with time of temperature susceptibility of the asphalts. This does not imply that the temperature susceptibility varied to such an extent that pavement construction and performance were affected.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rrd_130.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
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  Transportation Research Board

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• Publication Date: 1981-10

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 5 p.
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Research Results Digest
  • Issue Number: 130
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt cement; Asphalt concrete; Asphalt pavements; Concrete placing; Laboratory tests; Mix design; Pavement performance; Reviews; Temperature
• Uncontrolled Terms: Susceptibility
• Old TRIS Terms: Placing temperature
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00345312
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 29 1982 12:00AM