100-mm-Diameter Mold Used with Superpave Gyratory Compactor

Abstract

Due to increasing traffic levels and vehicle wheel loads, it has become necessary to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the design of hot mix asphalt (HMA). The Superior Performing Asphalt Pavement (Superpave) mix design and analysis system was introduced for this purpose. The Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) is a vital part of this new mixture design and analysis system. The SGC makes use of a 150-mm- (6-in.) diameter cylindrical mold to produce specimens for design and evaluation under the Superpave system. The objective of this study was to explore the potential for using a 100-mm-(4-in.) diameter mold to produce test specimens in the laboratory. Loose HMA was collected from over 40 paving projects throughout the state of Tennessee. The mixes were tested in the laboratory, and the relative density