INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF TXDOT BINDER QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM

Most state departments of transportation (DOTs) maintain asphalt binder quality assurance (QA) programs to ensure that asphalt binders used in the construction of their road system meet specifications stipulated for each project. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) samples and approves asphalt materials at the source and utilizes these materials in highway projects without consideration of possible changes in properties that may occur between production and use during construction. Historic concern and limited recent data indicate that binder properties do change, contributing to difficulties during construction operations and poor performance. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the current TxDOT binder QA program and recommend revisions as necessary toward improving quality. This interim report documents an initial assessment of the current program based on (1) an extensive information search and review that included two detailed surveys of TxDOT districts and nine other state DOTs and (2) partial results from a comprehensive laboratory testing program that simulated factors that may affect changes in binder properties prior to use. Preliminary recommendations that will be evaluated as the project continues include performing a more detailed and comprehensive evaluation of the current binder QA program and implementing revisions in terms of a total binder quality system under the direction of a quality manager. In this system, the binder QA program would be one tool to improve material quality used during construction. Other recommended tools include mandated quality control plans for both suppliers and contractors that require special handling for binders, training programs for sampling and testing, general education seminars presenting the goals of the system to all involved, and a round-robin program to establish testing variability. Researchers also recommend development of a user-friendly database for storing binder QA data that includes storage times, storage temperatures, and pavement performance data. They suggest frequent analysis of these data, possibly to set frequency rates for field sampling by binder and supplier.

• Record URL:
  http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/4047-1.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/19000/19500/19514/PB2002107499.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research Project Title: Analysis and Development of Asphalt Quality Assurance Procedures.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Transfer Office, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5051

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Epps, A
  • Spiegelman, C
  • Park, E-S
  • Arambula, E
  • AHMED, T
  • Apanasovich, T
• Publication Date: 2001-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 130 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous binders; Databases; Districts and authorities; Education and training; Laboratory tests; Properties of materials; Quality assurance; Quality control; Sampling; State departments of transportation; Surveys; Testing
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Materials; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00925848
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-02/4047-1,, Research Report 4047-1,, TTI: 0-4047
• Contract Numbers: Project No. 0-4047
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 6 2002 12:00AM