BITUMINOUS MIXTURES: COMPUTER-BASED APPROACH TO QUALITY ASSESSMENT

This article describes a database set up by the roads service of the department of the environment (northern Ireland) to monitor the performance of individual bituminous materials manufacturers, after a manual study in 1984 revealed that only 55% of asphalt suppliers and 30% of bitumen macadam manufacturers fully complied with the mix composition specification. The roads service, in 6 divisions, uses 28 asphalt and 48 bitumen macadam manufacturers. The aim of the database is to promote an improvement in quality by objectively assessing the suitability of manufacturers to enter or remain on the approved lists. The system provides for 3 categories of classification of sample test results: (a) for material within specification; (b) for a marginal failure, and (C) for a significant failure (30 results). Safeguards are described which ensure fairness towards the manufacturers in the sampling frequency, routines, methods and testing procedures. BS 598: part 1: 1974 is used as the standard for the taking of samples. Warning levels for non compliance were set at an achievable rather than a desirable level (not disclosed to manufacturers), and few manufacturers have had to be removed from the approved lists. The enhanced, menu driven system is described in detail. By implementing a computer control system, the roads service has enhanced the efficiency of its testing service and promoted an improvement in the levels of quality achieved by its suppliers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02656868
• Authors:
  • ORR, D M
• Publication Date: 1990-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 8-12
• Serial:
  • HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: INSTITUTION OF HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION
  • ISSN: 0265-6868

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous macadam; Compliance; Continuous structures; Data banks; Economic efficiency; Federal government; Quality control; Sampling; Specifications; Surveillance; Tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Quality
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 4921: Bitumen macadam; 178: Compliance (specif); 9006: Continuous; 8614: Database; 5911: Efficiency; 183: Government (national); 9063: Quality; 6253: Sampling; 177: Specifications; 9101: Surveillance; 6255: Test; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Economics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498439
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM