Highway Materials

4300:468/568
Assignment #7

SUBMITTED BY
Maishah Alin
Student Identification Number: 3003854
Problem 1

Based on your understanding of ODOT Construction and Materials Specifications, answer

the following questions:
a) What are the main differences between Items 301 and 302? In what type of
applications are these items used?
b) An engineer intends to use Item 441 in the construction of a major highway that
carries 2000 average daily truck traffic (ADTT). If the design thickness of the
intermediate course is 5” and that of the wearing course is 1 ½”, which mix type shall
he or she select for these courses. What lift thickness shall be used in the compaction
of each layer?
c) In what type of highways are Superpave mixes used?
d) What are the main differences between Item 446 and Item 448? Which item allows for
a more strict control over the quality of the HMA? In what type of projects is each item
used?

Solution

a) Item 301 is designed by ODOT & Item 302 is designed by Contractor.

These items are used for mix design of Asphalt Concrete Base Course.

b) ADTT = 2000 > 1500 . So Traffic level is HEAVY.

For Wearing Course, the mix will be S1H (MarshalL). For Intermediate Course, the mix
will be I2H (Marshall).

Lift thickness for Intermediate Course = 3”+2”

Lift thickness for Wearing Course = 1 ½”

c) Superpave mix design is used for heavy traffic pavements where AADTT ≥1500.

d) The main difference between Item-446 & Item-448 is how the mixture is monitored and
tested to determine its acceptability.

Item 446 Has more strict control over the quality of HMA.

Item-446 is used where asphalt concrete volume is more than 2000 cubic yards. Item-448
is used where asphalt concrete volume is less than 2000 cubic yards.
Problem 2

Describe briefly the differences between drum and batch plans in terms of:
a) Aggregate drying
b) Control of aggregate gradation
c) Control of asphalt binder content
d) Hot mix asphalt production rate
e) Hot mix asphalt storage

Solution

Sl Topic Drum Plant Batch Plant

a Aggregate Drying Using parallel flow Using Counter flow
dryer in the Drum dryer in the Dryer
Mixer
b Control of Aggregate Gradation By proportioning Gradation control is
materials from done at the hot bins
individual bins with screens
c Control of Asphalt Binder Content By controlling the Done at the pugmill
aggregate flow on the with regard to
belt & also by aggregate proportion
controlling asphalt
binder pumping unit
d Hot Mix Asphalt Production Rate High Low to Medium
e Hot Mix Asphalt Storage By using storage silo Straight to trucks or
using storage silo

Problem 3

What are the main factors affecting hot mix asphalt construction productivity?

Solution

Main factors are,

i. Type of plant
ii. Number of trucks available
iii. Number of Pavers available
iv. Number of rollers available
v. Distance between site to plant
vi. Weather condition

Problem 4

Hot mix asphalt is transported from the production facility to the job site using trucks. What
are the most common types of trucks that are used for this purpose? What are their
capacities? Discuss their unloading mechanism.
Solution

Type of Truck Capacity Unloading Mechanism

End Dump Truck 12-25 tons Raising Truck Bed
Bottom Dump Truck 20-25 tons Load is delivered from
bottom of the bed
Horizontal Discharge Truck Up to 45 tons Conveyor moves the mix out
of back end

Problem 5

What are the main components of a paver? Describe the flow mechanism of the hot mix
asphalt in the paver.

Solution

The main components of a paver are Tractor, Hopper, Push Rollers, Tow Point, Side Arm,
Conveyor, Augers, Screed & Depth Crank.

Flow mechanism of HMA in the paver:

Dumping of Asphalt from truck to Hopper → Use of conveyor to move the mix inside the
hopper → Use of hopper gates to control overflow of mix → Use of auger to proportionally
place the mix over the roadway → Use of screed plate to control the thickness of the paved layer.

Problem 6

List five types of grade control references that can be used by a paver to ensure a flat hot mix
asphalt surface.

Solution

i. Stringline
ii. Mobile Reference
iii. Joint Matching Shoe
iv. Ultrasonic Grade Sensor
v. Laser Grade Sensor

Problem 7

Hot mix asphalt is compacted using three main types of rollers. Mention the roller types. At
what mix temperatures are these rollers operated?
Solution

Type of Roller Operating Temperature (°F)

Vibratory 300-240
Pneumatic 240-190
Steel Wheeled 170-150

Problem 8

Compaction is affected by several factors, including material properties, environmental

variables, laydown site conditions, and roller operation practices? Discuss how each of these
factors affects compaction?

Solution

Material Properties: The properties that effects compaction are amount of crushed
content, NMAS, Hardness of aggregate, Angularity of aggregate,
Less natural sand, High dust content in mix & stiffer asphalt
binder.

Environmental Variables: The environmental variables that effects compaction are Air &
base temperature, Wind velocity & Solar Flux.

Laydown Site Condition: The variables that effects compaction are Lift thickness, HMA mix
laydown temperature & Base uniformity.

Roller operation Practice: The variables that effects compaction are Rolling speed, Rolling
Pattern, Rolling zone, Roller weight, Roller type, Number of
passes & Number of coverages.

Problem 9

What are the major factors affecting the time available for compaction?

Solution

The major factors are,

i. Temperature of the paved layer
ii. Temperature of the underlying base
iii. Number of rollers available
iv. Rolling pattern
v. Width of roadway
vi. Type of roadway (i.e. interstate, cityroad etc.)
vii. Operating time (i.e. Day or Night)
viii. Number of traffic