QC/QA Test for Asphalt Binders using Laser Technology
Raj Dongre
Dongre Laboratory Services, Inc.
Abstract
The State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) asked the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to develop a simple and portable test method that may be used as a QC/QA tool for asphalt binders. FHWA along with Laser Technology Inc. (LTI) of Norristown PA has developed a QC/QA test method for asphalt binders. This device uses an air jet to produce creep and recovery loading, Figure 1. The resulting creep and recovery deformation is measured using a method that is based on laser technology. A first version of the QC/QA device has now been developed by Laser Technologies Inc. (LTI). Further testing was conducted at FHWA and LTI using the working prototype to further evaluate the technology and to study the long term steric hardening behavior of unaged and RTFO aged asphalt binders. This presentation will discuss the status of the ongoing QC/QA test method development under taken by FHWA and LTI, Figure 2. A demonstration of the test method will also be presented using various asphalt binders.
Biography
Dr. Raj Dongre is currently a consultant to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). For the past 16 years, he has been involved with the refinement of various Superpave specifications and development of standards. He has published numerous papers on material testing and specifications. Dr. Dongre received his MS and Ph.D. degrees from The Pennsylvania State University and his BSCE degree from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. His background has varied aspects of asphalt highway engineering ranging from academic to research and consulting engineering. He owns the consulting engineering firm and testing laboratory Dongre Laboratory Services Inc. He is a member of the Transportation Research Board, The Association of Asphalt Pavement Technologists, The Canadian Technical Asphalt Association, and past Chairman of ASTM subcommittee D4.44.