TMRC Asphalt Cement Based Materials Research

There are two distinct facilities in the asphalt materials area: Asphalt Binder Rheology Research and Testing Facility and the Hot Mix Asphalt Research and Testing Facility. These facilities are described in detail below.

1. Asphalt Binder Rheology Research and Testing Facilities (314 Dillman Hall)

	Two chemical hoods for extraction and recovery of binder from mixtures.		Three rotational viscometers (Brookfield DV-III, Brookfield DV-II+, and a Bohlin Visco 88 BV).
	Two Cox CS325-B rolling thin film ovens.		Two ATS 504D pressure aging vessels.
	Prentex Model 9900 degassing oven.		A Bohlin CV120 high-resolution dynamic shear rheometer and a Bohlin ADS dynamic shear rheometer (both with stress and strain control, can also test miniature mix specimens).
	Two Cannon TE bending beam rheometers and one ATS bending beam rheometer.		A Bohlin direct tension tester.
	Silverson L4RT-A high shear mill with two Glas-Col digital temperature controlled heating mantels for the preparation of polymer and crumb rubber blends.		Tempyrex Pyro-Clean cleaning oven.

Also:

• A joint sealant laboratory-melting unit (in accordance with ASTM D 5167).
• Multiple sets of equipment for determination of asphalt binder specific gravity.
• Penetrometer, softening point, ductility, kinematic viscometer and absolute viscometer equipment.

As evidenced by the list of equipment, the facilities are capable of standard Superpave binder grading, and performing advanced testing beyond state of the practice. Additional non-standard equipment can be developed and fabricated by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s machine shop.

2. Hot Mix Asphalt Research and Testing Facilities