CTQP Asphalt Paving Inspection 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'bleeding' refer to in asphalt pavement?
- Cracking along the pavement edge
- Excess asphalt binder migrating to the surface (Correct answer)
- Water seeping through pavement layers
- Aggregate loss from the surface
Correct answer: Excess asphalt binder migrating to the surface
Bleeding occurs when excess asphalt binder migrates upward to the pavement surface, creating a shiny, sticky film.
Question 2: During asphalt paving operations, what is the primary purpose of the screed on a paving machine?
- To heat the asphalt mix before placement
- To compact and smooth the asphalt to the required thickness and surface texture (Correct answer)
- To distribute tack coat ahead of the paver
- To measure the air void content of the mix
Correct answer: To compact and smooth the asphalt to the required thickness and surface texture
The screed strikes off, consolidates, and textures the asphalt mat to the specified width, thickness, and surface finish.
Question 3: What minimum pavement surface temperature is typically required before applying tack coat?
- 20°F (-7°C)
- 50°F (10°C) (Correct answer)
- 32°F (0°C)
- 90°F (32°C)
Correct answer: 50°F (10°C)
Tack coat is generally not applied when the pavement surface temperature is below 50°F (10°C) because the emulsion will not break and bond properly.
Question 4: A longitudinal joint in an asphalt pavement is best described as a joint that runs:
- Perpendicular to the direction of traffic
- Parallel to the direction of traffic (Correct answer)
- At a 45-degree angle to the roadway centerline
- Across the full width of the pavement
Correct answer: Parallel to the direction of traffic
Longitudinal joints run parallel to the direction of travel and typically occur between adjacent paving lanes.
Question 5: Which test is used in the field to measure the density of a compacted asphalt pavement layer non-destructively?
- Hveem stabilometer test
- Marshall stability test
- Nuclear density gauge test (Correct answer)
- Sand cone test
Correct answer: Nuclear density gauge test
The nuclear density gauge measures the density of compacted asphalt pavement non-destructively by emitting gamma radiation and detecting backscatter.
Question 6: What is the allowable tolerance for surface smoothness (ride quality) typically measured with during CTQP asphalt inspection?
- Profilograph or inertial profiler (Correct answer)
- Benkelman beam
- Falling weight deflectometer
- Ground-penetrating radar
Correct answer: Profilograph or inertial profiler
A profilograph or inertial profiler is used to measure pavement ride quality and profile index to verify smoothness requirements are met.
Question 7: When inspecting a transverse joint, which condition indicates proper construction?
- The new mat is 1/2 inch higher than the existing pavement before rolling (Correct answer)
- The joint shows a gap between the new and existing material
- The existing pavement at the joint is cold and uncoated
- The new mat is placed flush with the existing pavement without any overlap
Correct answer: The new mat is 1/2 inch higher than the existing pavement before rolling
The new mat should be placed slightly high (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch) before rolling so that after compaction it will be flush with the existing surface.
CTQP Asphalt Paving Inspection 4
What does the term 'bleeding' refer to in asphalt pavement?