EXPERIENCE WITH STONE MATRIX ASPHALT IN THE UNITED STATES. NCAT REPORT

Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA), which has been used in Europe for approximately 20 years, was first developed to provide resistance to abrasion by studded tires. In the 1970s, studded tires were banned in Germany, and the use of SMA mixtures declined because of the higher material and construction costs and there no longer appeared to be a critical need for these mixtures. Rutting of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) became a bigger problem in Germany in the 1980s due to increased tire pressure, wheel loads, and traffic volume, and SMA mixtures began to be used again. Studded tires have continued to be used in Sweden, and SMA mixtures have continued to provide good performance under these severe loading conditions. A study group from the U.S. consisting of contractors, National Asphalt Pavement Association, Asphalt Institute, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and State highway agencies visited Europe in the fall of 1990 to observe the quality of roads in Europe and to discuss construction procedures as well as contracting procedures. The group was most impressed with the performance of SMA mixtures. Based on this trip and the observed performance of SMA mixtures, it was decided shortly after this trip to construct a SMA test section in Michigan. This report discusses the construction of five SMA test sections in the U.S. in 1991 and summarizes what was learned from these projects.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.eng.auburn.edu/research/centers/ncat/files/reports/1993/rep93-04.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/40585
• Corporate Authors:

  National Center for Asphalt Technology

  Auburn University, 277 Technology Parkway
  Auburn, AL  United States  36830
• Authors:
  • Brown, E R
• Publication Date: 1992-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 46 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Performance; Ruts (Pavements); Stone matrix asphalt; Technology
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rut resistance
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00666280
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NCAT Report No. 93-4
• Files: NTL, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 27 1994 12:00AM