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Photo for visual interest. Four men in orange vests and hardhats stand around a piece of equipment, an infrared imaging tool. Two of the men look at a video screen that is part of the equipment. Two of the men work with the bar that extends from the equipment and rests on rollers, straddling the newly laid asphalt. The back of the asphalt-laying equipment is visible. In the background is the shoulder of the roadway, a metal guardrail, and a building.

TTI and TxDOT employees use an infrared imaging tool to test for asphalt abnormalities.

Pavements and Materials

As early as the 1950s, TTI researchers were developing test facilities to measure pavement loading and mixture characteristics. In almost sixty years of research, TTI's pavement and materials experts have amassed a wealth of experience in practical and theoretical knowledge. Professionals from disciplines in engineering, planning, computer science, and natural sciences contribute extensive expertise to achieve state-of-the-art and state-of-the-practice results.

Projects study roadway management, fundamental physical and chemical characteristics of asphalt and aggregates as well as flexible and rigid pavement mixtures and structures, different types of pavement, soil influences, repair and rehabilitation, fracture mechanics, and other materials issues. TTI researchers are recognized worldwide for their expertise and are frequently invited to present educational seminars and workshops. Forward-looking research paves the way for use of recyclable materials and educates future transportation professionals.

Researchers collaborate with specialists in the industry, as exemplified by multiagency project teams and partnerships such as the International Center for Aggregates Research headquartered at TTI, which serves as a forum for research and discussion into industry concerns.

Related Research Units

Related Subtopics

TTI conducts research in a number of specific transportation-related areas. Click the following link to see a list of the subtopics related to this area.

For More Information

Joe Button
Materials and Pavements Division
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 845-9965
j-button@tamu.edu