Best Superpave Shear Test Protocol for Predicting Rutting (0-1819-S)

Approximately 94 percent of paved roads in Texas are asphalt pavements. Permanent deformation or rutting is a major issue for hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements throughout the nation, including Texas. Each year, rehabilitation and construction require about 12 million tons of HMA. District pavement engineers, area engineers, and laboratory supervisors are constantly faced with decisions regarding selection of the best asphalt mixture design to use in construction or rehabilitation of particular pavement. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and contractors need a method that is capable of verifYing that the selected mixture design is not likely to exhibit premature distress during service under the anticipated traffic loading, temperature regime, and pavement substrate. Rutting, a major form of premature distress, is caused mainly by insufficient shearing strength of HMA.