Asphalt Section

The Asphalt Section at the Materials Control, Soils and Testing Division is committed to ensuring that only quality asphalt products are used in constructing and maintaining our highways for the citizens of West Virginia. We will be proactive in maintaining and developing education, testing, inspection, and quality assurance programs that use the latest processes and technology to meet State and Federal specifications.

Tests that we perform

The Asphalt Laboratories are AASHTO Accredited through the AASHTO re:source organization, formerly AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL). The Binder, Emulsion, and Mixture laboratories all participate in the AASHTO re:source proficiency program as well as a biennial inspection. The Laboratories are certified in the following tests, however the entire accreditation details can be found at the following link: AASHTO re:source Accreditation.

Asphalt Binder - accredited since 4/1/1992

• R28 - Accelerated Aging of Asphalt Binder Using a Pressurized Aging Vessel (PAV)
• T44 - Solubility of Bituminous Materials
• T48 - Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup
• T49 - Penetration of Bituminous Materials
• T51 - Ductility of Asphalt Materials
• T228 - Specific Gravity of Semi-Solid Asphalt Materials
• T240 - Effect of Heat and Air on a Moving Film (Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test)
• T301 - Elastic Recovery Test using a Ductilometer
• T313 - Flexural Creep Stiffness using the Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR)
• T315 - Rheological Properties using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR)
• T316 - Viscosity Determination using Rotational Viscometer
• T350 - Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) using DSR

Emulsified Asphalt - accredited since 4/1/1992

• T59 - Test for Emulsified Asphalts
• T59 (Residue by Distillation)
• T59 (Residue by Evaporation)
• T59 (Settlement and Storage Stability)
• T59 (Sieve Test)

Asphalt Mixture (Accredited since 1992)

• T30 - Mechanical Analysis of Extracted Aggregate
• T166 - Bulk Specific Gravity (Gmb) of HMA (Saturated Surface-Dry)
• T209 - Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity (Gmm) and Density of HMA
• T269 - Percent Air Voids in Compacted Asphalt Mixtures
• T308 - Asphalt Binder Content of HMA by the Ignition Method
• T312 - Superpave Gyratory Compactor Density
• T331 - Bulk Specific Gravity (Gmb) via Automatic Vacuum Sealing
• D6926 - Preparation of Specimens using Marshall Apparatus
• D6927 - Marshall Stability and Flow

The Asphalt Section also assists in the technician certification programs, hosts educational workshops, and provides training for district laboratory staff. We assist in the implementation of new specifications, special provisions, and design directives that concern asphalt within the State’s highway system. The Asphalt Section staff supports the Pavement Analysis & Evaluation Section at MCS&T by conducting pavement surveys, evaluating asphalt cores, and assisting in education and training seminars.

Standard Specifications Roads and Bridges

The West Virginia Division of Highway’s Standard Specifications Roads and Brid​ges governs t​he materials that are used on West Virginia’s highways. It is important that the Asphalt Section understands these specifications, how they affect construction of our roadways, and how they affect the lifespan of asphalt roadways in the State. The sections of the specifications that cover asphalt and asphalt materials are listed below:

Division 400: Bituminous Pavements

• Section 401: Asphalt Base, Wearing, and Patching and Leveling Courses
• Section 402: Asphalt Skid Resistant Pavement
• Section 405: Surface Treatments
• Section 408: Tack Coat
• Section 410: Asphalt Base and Wearing Courses, Percent within Limits (PWL)
• Section 412: Winter Grade Asphalt Patching Mixture
• Section 415: Milling ofAsphalt Pavement Surface

Division 700: Materials Details

• Section 705: Asphalt Materials

Material Procedures

It is important to perform all procedures associated with sampling, testing, reporting, and inspection appropriately in order to maintain a reliable quality assurance system. This is accomplished by use of Division approved Materials Procedures (MPs). These MPs are numbered to coincide with the Standard Specifications. As such, the Asphalt Section maintains the 400 Series of MPs. The following is an individual list of MPs currently maintained by the Asphalt Section:

• 401.​02.21: Calibration of Thermometer and Pyrometer at Bituminous Concrete Mixing Plant
• 401.02.2​2: Design Testing of Hot-Mix Asphalt
• 401.02​.24: Guide to Designing Hot-Mix Asphalt with Recycled Asphalt Pavement
• 401.0​2.25: Certification of Asphalt and Tar Shipping Terminals
• 401.0​2.27: Guide for Contractors Quality Control of Hot-Mix Asphalt
• 401.02.28​: Guide to Designing Hot-Mix Asphalt Using Superpave Volumetric Design
• 401.02.​29: Guideline for Quality Control and Acceptance Requirements for Superpave Hot-Mix Asphalt
• 401.02.31: Guide for Quality Control and Acceptance Requirements for Asphalt Mixtures on Specified Interstate and Expressway Projects
• 401.03.50: Guide for Contractor's Quality Control of Bituminous Concrete
• 401.05.20: Compaction Testing of Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavement
• 401.07.20: PWL  - Sampling Loose Asphaltic Mixtures from the Roadway
• 401.07.21: PWL - Sampling Compacted Asphaltic Mixtures from the Roadway
• 401.07.22: PWL - Standard Method of Measurement for Thickness of Asphalt Pavement Using Drilled Cores
• 401.0​7.23: PWL - Guide to Determining Interface Bond Shear Strength of Multi-layered Asphalt Pavement Specimens
• 401.07.24: PWL - Standard Test Method for Measuring Pavement Macrotexture Depth Using a Volumetric Technique
• 401.07.25: PWL - Guide for Evaluation of Asphalt Pavements with Substandard Properties
• 401.13.50: PWL - Guide to Statistical Analysis of Material Using Quality Level Analysis - Percent Within Limits
• 402​.02.20: Rapid Determination of the Polish Susceptible Carbonate Particle Content in Aggregates
• 403.01.50: (De-Activate​) Procedure for D​etermining a Reduced Unit Price to Be Paid for Penetration Macadam Which Does Not Conform to the Grading Requirements of Governing Specifications
   

Approved Source Lists and Contact Info

Bituminous Material
Contact: DOHasphalt@wv.gov
Regulated by: MP 401.02.25
Requirements: Annual Quality Assurance Testing

Approved Design Labs
Contact: DOHasphalt@wv.gov
Requirements: AASHTO re:source Accreditation & Approved Designer

Approved Mix Designers (Marshall/SuperPave)
Contact: DOHasphalt@wv.gov
Regulated by: MP 401.02.22, MP 401.02.24, MP 401.02.28
Requirements: Indication that they hold a mix design certificate.

Approved JMFs (Marshall/SuperPave)
Contact: DOHasphalt@wv.gov
Regulated by: MP 401.02.22, MP 401.02.24, MP 401.02.28

Requirements: Must be submitted using WVDOH JMF workbook.

Approved Asphalt Plants
Contact: DOHasphalt@wv.gov
Regulated by: Standards Spec Section 401.9 & AASHTO M156
Requirements: Annual plant inspection by local District Staff

Professional Resources

• Asphalt Institute
• AASHTO
• National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)
• National Center of Asphalt Technology (NCAT)
• Mid-Atlantic Quality Assurance Workshop (QAW)