Pavement Lab
The Pavement Materials Laboratory in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been established to provide research; testing, education and technology transfer in the field of pavement construction. The Laboratory is developed according to the FHWA Superpave guidelines that offer pavement designers the tools needed to tailr asphalt mixes to specific traffic loads and extreme climatic conditions with its superior mix design and binder.
The Pavement Materials Laboratory provides the equipment for testing of hot mix asphalt concrete, aggregate, asphalt cement, and performing acceptance tests such as Bulk Specific Gravity, Max Specific Gravity, Gyratory Compaction, AC Content by ignition Oven or non-Chlorinated Solvent Method, Aggregate Gradation and AC permeability. The Laboratory also capable to perform all concrete pavement tests.
- Pavement Condition Survey for City of Oviedo, 2001-2002, $ 30,000, City of Oviedo.
- Use of Recyled Concrete (Florida Limestone Aggregates) for a Base Course in Pavements, 2000-2001, $107,000, FDOT.
- Flexible Pavement Performance Predications Model on the Basis of Pavement Conditions Data, 1998-1999, $86,000, FDOT.
- Evaluation and Selection of Bridge Inspection Process Using Fuzzy Logic Expert System, 1996 -1998, $50,000, UCF.
- Guideline and spcification for the use ofReclamied Aggregates in Pavements, 1996 -1997, $81,000, FDOT.
Activities of Superpave Laboratory:
The future looks promising for the Superpave Pavement Laboratory. The completely equipped laboratory and certified manager can attract the local agencies and industrial firms in Central Florida and offer the following activities:
1 Education and Technology Transfer
a) Hot Mix Asphalt for the Undergraduate and graduate students including the Superpave Mix Design System
Aggregates: General and Gradation
Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
Asphalt: General and History
Superpave Binder Testing
Superpave Binder Specification
HMA Mix Design
Volumetrics Design
Superpave Mix Design
HMA Construction
HMA Plant Operation
HMA Laydown
Laboratory Activities
b) Training courses for engineers and contractors on update Hot Mix Asphalt and Superpave Mix Design System.
c) Seminars / Workshops for practicing engineers and technicians from Cities, Counties, and Consulting Agencies.
2 Services for Local Agencies and Industrial Firms
The laboratory can provide the following services:
a) Design hot mixes asphalt blends.
b) Sample hot mix, aggregate or asphalt cement.
c) Quality Control Programs for Pavement construction
d) Perform acceptance tests on Asphalt Cement, Aggregate, and Asphalt Mix such as Bulk Specific Gravity, Max Specific Gravity, Gyratory Compaction, AC Content by Ignition Oven or non-Chlorinated Solvent Method, Gradation and Permeability.
3 Researches Projects
The laboratory can provide cutting edge research in the field of Pavement Technology and Construction. Using of the laboratory facilities we can address different research problems with industry, Local Agencies, and academic institutions such as the following research needs:
a) Use of Florida limestone aggregate as Florida Superpave mixture design, performance testing, and performance predictions.
b) Study of Florida Superpave serviceability and distresses as comparing to other States.
c) Florida limestone aggregates meet Superpave specification.
Equipment
Thin film oven aging is a laboratory procedure for simulating the change in asphalt cement properties which occur during tank storage, mixing and construction processes. This test can also be used to measure the loss of volatiles in the asphalt cement by determining the percent difference in the mass before and after aging.
The rotational viscosmeter (also referred to at a Brookfield viscometer) is a concentric cylinder rheometer. This means that one cylinder rotates inside of another. Viscosity is determined from the amount of torque needed to rotate a cylinder (called a spindle) with a known geometry.
This test method is used to evaluate the original and short term aged binder properties at the warmest expected pavement temperature.
A pressure aging vessel (PAV) treatment of the RTFO binder is used to further age the binder. This simulates long term aging changes.
This test applies a static load to a simply supported beam of asphalt cement. Temperature is held constant using a liquid bath. A computer provides both equipment control and data acquisition.
Superpave Full-Size Gyratory Compactors
In 1995 the Superpave mix design procedure was introduced into use. It builds on the knowledge from Marshall and Hveem procedures. The primary differences between the three procedures is the machine used to compact the specimens and strength tests used to evaluate the mixes.
This test method is used to determine the asphalt content of the mix.
The big size asphalt mix oven is used in asphalt mix design and quality control of asphalt mixes.
