National Academies Press: OpenBook
Page i
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

CRP SPECIAL RELEASE 1

Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder
Quality Tester

Michael Gallaher
Benjamin Fein-Smolinski
Kyle Clark-Sutton
RTI INTERNATIONAL

Research Triangle Park, NC

Subject Areas
Materials • Pavements • Research (about research)

images

images

2022

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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CRP SPECIAL RELEASE SERIES

The Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) Special Release series publishes the findings of projects managed by CRP upon request by organizations outside of CRP’s core research programs.

CRP SPECIAL RELEASE 1

Project TFPE-01

ISSN 2831-4670

ISBN 978-0-309-68701-0

© 2022 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.

Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, NHTSA, or TDC endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP.

NOTICE

The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; or the program sponsors.

The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications.

The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the Cooperative Research Programs do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names or logos appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.

Published reports of the

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

are available from

Transportation Research Board
Business Office
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

and can be ordered through the Internet by going to

https://www.mytrb.org/MyTRB/Store/default.aspx

Printed in the United States of America

Page iii
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, non-governmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president.

The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.

The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.

Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.


The Transportation Research Board is one of seven major programs of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation improvements and innovation through trusted, timely, impartial, and evidence-based information exchange, research, and advice regarding all modes of transportation. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about 8,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation.

Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

CRP STAFF FOR CRP SPECIAL RELEASE 1

Christopher J. Hedges, Director, Cooperative Research Programs

Lori L. Sundstrom, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs

Ann M. Hartell, Senior Program Officer

Andrew C. Lemer, Senior Program Officer (retired)

Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications

Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications

Ellen M. Chafee, Senior Editor

CRP PROJECT TFPE-01 PANEL

Chandra K. Akisetty, Maryland State Highway Administration, Hanover, MD

Peter C. Capon, Rieth-Riley Construction Company, Inc., Bristol, IN

Eshan V. Dave, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Mark J. Grazioli, Michigan Department of Transportation, Southfield, MI

Andrew J. Hanz, MTE Services, Inc., Onalaska, WI

Susan C. Sillick, Helena, MT

Mary Huie, FHWA Liaison

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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FOREWORD

By Ann M. Hartell

Staff Officer

Transportation Research Board

CRP Special Release 1 presents an evaluation of a cooperative research and development effort that supported the development of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. The report will be of interest to those responsible for materials testing and quality assurance protocols for asphalt mixes. The report also addresses the broader topics of technology transfer, diffusion of innovation, and methods to quantify the value of research.


This report documents the evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester (ABQT), a device that was researched and developed by FHWA’s Research and Technology (R&T) Program. The ABQT was developed under a cooperative research and development agreement between FHWA and Laser Technology, Inc.

The ABQT is a rapid testing device that measures deflection and recovery in a sample of asphalt binder and then estimates the performance grade of the binder sample. Binder quality is an important component of asphalt quality, affecting the quality and performance of asphalt pavement. Compared with most existing binder testing equipment, the ABQT is smaller, requires less calibration, and uses smaller sample volumes, making it more portable and easier to use. The ABQT has the potential to provide test results more rapidly at a project site or in a state testing laboratory. This could allow an increased number of samples to be tested, which could help state departments of transportation (DOTs) and project managers to better detect out-of-specification binder before it is paved.

The ABQT was assessed under the TRB-FHWA Program Evaluation (TFPE) effort, which is part of a second stage of FHWA’s R&T Evaluation Program. For Project TFPE-01, “Asphalt Binder Quality Tester,” RTI International was tasked with evaluating the process by which ABQT research was selected and conducted. The effort included an evaluation of activities to promote the adoption of ABQT by state DOTs along with an assessment of barriers to adoption of the ABQT by public- and private-sector entities. A quantitative estimate of the potential benefits of the ABQT is also provided.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION PROGRAM

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that supports state and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the nation’s highway system (Federal Aid Highway Program) and various federally and tribally owned lands (Federal Lands Highway Program). A significant portion of FHWA’s research activities, evolved over many years in response to successive legislative initiatives, is managed by agency staff from the Research and Technology (R&T) Program housed at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia, and other locations. The aim of FHWA’s R&T activities is to support FHWA’s mission through deployment of innovations that address current issues and emerging challenges, create efficiencies in the highway and transportation sector, and provide information to support policy decisions.

The FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation Program seeks to assess and communicate the benefits of FHWA’s R&T efforts; ensure that the organization is expending public resources efficiently and effectively; and build evidence to shape and improve policymaking. FHWA partners with State transportation departments, local agencies, industries, and academia to conduct research on issues of national significance and accelerate adoption and deployment of promising research products.

To ensure that R&T activities are effectively and efficiently contributing to FHWA’s mission, R&T staff apply leading practices in research management and occasionally undertake formal evaluations of select activities, projects, or programs. In addition, FHWA’s R&T staff solicit advice from the Transportation Research Board (TRB), particularly the Research and Technology Coordinating Committee (RTCC). The RTCC issues annual reports commenting on R&T programs generally and suggesting adjustments to program strategies and approaches to improve program relevance, effectiveness, and impact.

In 2014, FHWA initiated the R&T Evaluation Program with two core objectives:

  1. To evaluate the selection process by which research is funded, and
  2. To assess the effectiveness of selected projects within the R&T portfolio, in terms of both research outcomes and technology transfer activities.

Under the R&T Evaluation Program’s initial phase, 16 evaluations conducted by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center were completed or in progress at the end of calendar year 2019.

FHWA has asked TRB to undertake management of evaluations under a second stage of the R&T Evaluation Program. TRB’s activities under this TRB-FHWA Program Evaluation (TFPE) effort comprise a series of projects evaluating research activities designated by FHWA and conducted by RTI International under TRB’s direction and oversight. To date, the following projects have been completed:

  • TFPE-01, Asphalt Binder Quality Tester
  • TFPE-02, Exploratory Advanced Research
  • TFPE-03, Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections

These evaluations are intended to generate evidence and provide data-driven assessments that substantiate the contributions of FHWA’s R&T Program to fulfilling the agency’s mission and strategic goals. The evaluations are focused on estimating and forecasting the socioeconomic returns from investments in R&T Program activities to inform future research plans and improve technology transition outcomes. To this end, the evaluations include quantitative estimates of impact metrics. In addition, the evaluations provide input on data collection, tracking, and monitoring for ongoing program evaluation and improvement.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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CONTENTS

Summary

Section 1 Introduction

Section 2 Analysis Approach

2.1 Interviews

2.2 Adoption Scenarios for Benefit Analysis

2.3 Probabilistic Model Used to Quantify Benefits

2.4 Follow-Up Survey to Finalize Key Parameters of the Model

Section 3 ABQT Project Selection and Research Process

3.1 Project Identification and Approval

3.2 Timeline of Research and Dissemination Activities

Section 4 Effectiveness of Research, Technology Transfer, and Collaboration Activities

Section 5 Evaluation of the Business Case and Barriers to Adoption

5.1 Market Readiness of the ABQT

5.2 General Barriers to Adoption

5.3 Individual Stakeholder Group Business Case and Adoption Analysis

5.4 Additional Opportunities for the ANN

5.5 Summary of the Benefits of ABQT Adoption

Section 6 Quantitative Analysis of the Potential Economic Impact of the ABQT Device

6.1 Adoption Scenarios and Impact of the ABQT

6.2 Conceptual Model of the Impact of the ABQT as a Screening Tool (Scenario 1)

6.3 The Probabilistic Model

6.4 Road Maintenance Costs Used in the Analysis

6.5 Scenario 1: Adoption of the ABQT by DOTs

6.6 Scenario 2: Adoption of the ABQT by DOTs and Suppliers

6.7 Scenario 3: Adoption of the ABQT by DOTs, Suppliers, and Mix Plants

6.8 Impacts of the Three Scenarios

6.9 Additional Economic Benefits Investigated

Section 7 Benefit-Cost Analysis

7.1 FHWA ABQT Expenditures

7.2 Time Series of Benefits and Costs: Scenario 1

7.3 Time Series of Benefits and Costs: Scenario 2

7.4 Time Series of Benefits and Costs: Scenario 3

7.5 Quantitative Estimate of the Potential Benefits and Costs of the ABQT

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26603.
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Beginning in 2019, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requested that TRB be directly involved in managing evaluations of selected projects undertaken by the agency.

The TRB Cooperative Research Program's CRP Special Release 1: Evaluation of the Asphalt Binder Quality Tester presents an evaluation of a cooperative research and development effort that supported the development of the ABQT. The ABQT is a rapid testing device for binder quality, which is important in terms of the quality and performance of asphalt pavement.

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