Methodology of Assessing Testing Variation for Volumetric Quantities in Hot-Mix Asphalt Production

摘要

Increasingly, in road construction, pay incentives and disincentives are being related to both the average test results that are obtained during quality assurance testing as well as the variability associated with these values. As a result, state highway agencies must be fully aware of the expected variability that can be associated with each acceptance test since the results will not only be used for acceptance but may be used for pay adjustment also. In this study, a methodology was developed to assess the testing variability in hot-mix asphalt production. The study focused on determining allowable testing variations for the calculated volumetric quantities, including the air voids content and voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) determined from gyratory compacted specimens. A new standard of determining an allowable testing variation for VMA was developed. Furthermore, a test data analysis plan to extract the testing variation from the total measured variation for the hot-mix asphalt quality parameters was developed.