Who can test asphalt mix performance or investigate a pavement failure?
Asphalt work splits into quality-control tests on mixes and cores, performance tests such as wheel tracking, and forensic investigations of rutting, raveling or cracking that combine coring, lab testing and engineering review.
What the method covers
Plant mix, cores and binders; methods include binder content by ignition, volumetric properties, Marshall stability (ASTM D6927) and agency-specified performance tests.
Applicability caveats
- Performance test selection is usually set by the owner agency (often AASHTO methods).
- Cores reflect a location, not the whole project; distress mapping guides coring.
- Cause of failure frequently involves base, drainage or traffic — not only the mix.