State & Local Governments

Asphalt Quality Control

Asphalt Manufacturing

Asphalt Quality Control responsibilities belong to the asphalt contractors and is in place to show they provide quality products with results for acceptance.  ATS technicians can assume asphalt quality control responsibilities and will test the asphalt as it is produced to ensure the end product meets state or customer specifications.  The process may include:

  • Properly collecting samples from the trucks immediately following load-out
  • Monitoring actual mixing temperatures at the plant
  • Verifying liquid asphalt content
  • Identifying volumetric properties of compacted asphalt specimens and the specific gravity of the asphalt mix
Sampling asphalt for quality control

Asphalt Paving

During construction ATS technicians test the asphalt as it is placed in the field. The process may include:

  • Verifying proper rolling patterns are employed
  • Monitoring roadway temperatures
  • Calculating tack, dilution and spread rates
  • Checking density after asphalt paver lays the asphalt mix and after each roller passes
  • Cutting core samples to check for actual density results
  • Ensuring acceptable quality practices are followed
Cutting a core sample for testing

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance is the continued evaluation of planning, design and the development of plans and specifications to provide confidence that the product or facility will perform to standards.  This is provided through an unbiased, independent review of all operations, procedures and equipment used in the asphalt quality control process.  This is achieved by:

  • Observing and inspecting procedures during production and placement
  • Split sample testing
  • Evaluating performance and qualifications of the technicians
  • Verifying equipment is calibrated and in proper working condition
  • Conducting project oversight
  • Reviewing reports and results for accuracy per the project’s requirements
An asphalt engineer verifying the quality of asphalt testing results.

Asphalt Consulting Services / Litigation Support

New technologies and products come out every day.  Getting advice from one of our experts or analyzing test data are examples of the many ways ATS can provide assistance.  Our in-house professional pavement engineer backed by our team of experienced specialists can provide assistance in creating proper asphalt specifications for specialty products and oversight for the construction using new products.

Are you having issues with your asphalt mixtures, plant or lay-down?  Perhaps there is a dispute over the interpretation of an asphalt specification requirement.  ATS can help analyze your asphalt mixture, your production and construction data and project specifications and make suggestions to improve performance and/or provide a professional opinion.

We can help with:

  • Troubleshooting production / construction problems
  • Asphalt specification development
  • Expert opinion reports
  • Litigation support / expert testimony
  • Asphalt testing services
  • Asphalt Inspection
ATS Engineering Assessing Pavement Distress

Performance Testing

ATS  technicians provide asphalt testing services for Marshall and Superpave mixes and others.  Through balanced mix design we use asphalt performance testing to address multiple modes of distress relating to asphalt mix aging, traffic, climate and location within the pavement’s structure.

Tests include:

  • Superpave Gyratory & Marshall Compaction
  • Marshall Stability & Flow
  • Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test
  • Bond Shear Testing
  • Mixing & Compaction Temperatures
  • Asphalt Mix Designs
  • FAA P-632 Testing
  • Liquid Anti-Strip Approval & Research
  • Semi-Circular Bend Test
  • Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR)
  • RAP & RAS Analysis
  • Binder Extraction / Recovery
  • Consensus and Source Properties of Mineral Aggregates
  • Pavement Coring & Testing
Scooping an asphalt sample for testing

Asphalt Engineering Analysis

When you find yourself in the middle of a job and your materials are found to be non-compliant, an Engineering Analysis Report (EAR) may be required.  Our in-house professional engineer, backed by our team of experienced specialists, will conduct a thorough analysis of your asphalt materials or product and determine possible causes of non-compliance:

  • Scope of work
  • Develop testing plan
  • Testing, analysis and reports
  • Professional recommendations
An engineer reviewing testing plans on a computer

Mix Design

The certified Mix Designers at ATS incorporate the correct mix components for the most cost-effective mix designs to support our customers’ needs.  Including Superpave, Marshall, FAA and pavement preservation mix designs, our team has produced a multitude of approved designs.  Over the years mix design has evolved from a simple recipe approach to a more detailed analysis procedure and our designers and technicians will test the designs to ensure the proper volume of air voids and asphalt binder are mixed for stability and durability, as well as use a balanced mix design approach to meet the fine line between rutting and cracking.

Asphalt Mixer for Mix Design