Aggregate Quality Tests

Mineral Filler and Aggregates

• The main purpose of mineral filler in road pavement is to increase the density and stability of the asphalt mixture.
• The test NOT required for aggregates intended for Bituminous or Portland Cement concrete pavement is the Soundness test.

Bituminous Material and Asphalt

• The main component of Bituminous material used as a binder in road construction is Asphalt cement.
• Emulsified Asphalt is a type of asphalt that has been mixed with water and an emulsifying agent to create a stable mixture.
• Asphalt behaves as a viscous liquid at normal temperature.

Epoxy Binders and Hardening

• The characteristic of epoxy binders after hardening is that they become rigid and strong.
• Hardening in epoxy binders for asphalt or concrete pavement is achieved through a chemical reaction between the resin and catalyst.

Asphalt Concrete Pavement

• The characteristic of asphalt concrete pavement is that it is a flexible pavement.
• Bituminous pavement failures can be caused by failures in the asphalt layer, base course, or subgrade.

Soil and Pavement Deformation

• Repeated heavy wheel loads on highly resilient soil can cause rutting.
• The term used to describe the result of hardening epoxy resin and catalyst prior to application is "curing".
• The term used to describe the type of deformation that may occur in the road surface due to elastic and plastic deformation is "rutting".

Oxidized Asphalt and Pavement Types

• The main limitation of using oxidized asphalt in highways is that it becomes brittle and prone to cracking.
• Roughening and cracking of bituminous pavement can be caused by oxidation.
• The highest type of dense bituminous pavement suitable for the most heavily trafficked roads is Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA).