Implementation of Superpave Technology in Massachusetts
Funding Source: Massachusetts Highway Department
ATMC Materials Lab Involvement: Principle Investigator
Start Date: November 2001
End Date: December 2005
Summary:
Superpaveä is a comprehensive system for the design of Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) paving mixtures that are tailored to the unique performance requirements dictated by traffic (ESALs), environment (climate), and structural section at a pavement site. It is being used for steadily increasing shares of states’ asphalt pavement construction and rehabilitation projects. The Asphalt Technical Working Group (TWG) has set a target date of 1997 for national implementation of the Superpave binder specification and 2000 for nationwide adoption of the Superpave volumetric mix design procedure.
Superpave implementation is currently underway by the highway agencies at the states with support from the Federal Highway administration (FHWA). A survey conducted by the Superpave Lead States team showed that States are well on their way to meeting the target dates for Superpave implementation set by the Asphalt TWG. The team members - Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Texas, and Utah are ahead of the curve in building Superpave pavements and in adopting the Superpave system.
This scope of services is for Phase Two: Implementation of Superpaveä Technology in Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth completed entitled “Phase One: Implementation of Superpaveä Technology in Massachusetts” for the Massachusetts Highway Department in December 2000. The results of the Phase One effort were presented in the final report dated December 31, 2000. Phase Two represents a continuation of research of implementation of Superpave in Massachusetts. UMass Dartmouth will provide technical assistance to MassHighway in reviewing and recommending revisions to the Pilot Superpave Specifications based on CHA data and feedback and data collected from testing at UMass Dartmouth and at MassHighway.
Additionally an objective of this part of the study is to use the Superpave system to prepare Open Graded Friction Course (OGFC) mixes that meets the MassHighway specifications.
