Asphalt Paving Inspection Flashcards
7 cards from real CTQP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Asphalt Paving Inspection flashcards as text
What is 'raveling' in an asphalt pavement surface?
Answer: Progressive loss of aggregate particles from the pavement surface
Raveling is the progressive disintegration of the asphalt surface caused by loss of bond between aggregate particles and the binder.
The Performance Grade (PG) binder specification system is based primarily on:
Answer: Pavement expected service temperature range and traffic loading
The PG system selects binder based on the high and low pavement design temperatures and traffic loading conditions at the project location.
What action should an inspector take if asphalt mix arrives at the paver with visible segregation in the truck?
Answer: Reject the load and document the rejection
Segregated loads should be rejected because they result in non-uniform mix placement that cannot be corrected by rolling.
During hot weather paving, what problem is most likely to occur with the asphalt mix?
Answer: Compaction window is reduced due to faster cooling of the mat
Although hot ambient temperatures slow cooling, very high pavement temperatures in combination with thin lifts can still narrow the compaction window unpredictably.
What is the purpose of the breakdown roller in the asphalt compaction sequence?
Answer: To provide the initial primary compaction immediately behind the paver
The breakdown (or primary) roller follows closely behind the paver to achieve the initial densification of the hot mat while it is still workable.
What does VMA stand for in asphalt mix design, and why is it important?
Answer: Voids in Mineral Aggregate — it ensures enough space for binder and air voids
VMA (Voids in Mineral Aggregate) is the total void space between aggregate particles, which must be large enough to accommodate the asphalt binder and design air voids.
When should an asphalt inspector verify the temperature of the mix delivered to the job site?
Answer: At the plant before loading and again upon arrival at the paver
Mix temperature should be verified at the plant and again at delivery to ensure it has not cooled excessively during transport and is within specification.