PIC PIC Mix Design & Specification Compliance 2

Question 1

Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is used in HMA mixes primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce material costs and conserve virgin aggregate and binder

Answer

RAP recycles aged pavement material, reducing the need for virgin aggregate and binder, which lowers material costs and conserves resources.

Question 2

When a paving inspector reviews plant tickets, the binder content is reported as percent by:

Accepted Answer

Total weight of the mix (percent by total mass)

Answer

Asphalt binder content is reported as a percentage of the total weight of the mix (percent by total mass), not just the aggregate weight.

Question 3

Voids Filled with Asphalt (VFA) is calculated as:

Accepted Answer

VMA minus air voids, divided by VMA, times 100

Answer

VFA is the percentage of VMA filled with effective asphalt binder, calculated as (VMA − air voids) / VMA × 100.

Question 4

A polymer-modified asphalt binder (PMA) is typically specified on projects with:

Accepted Answer

High traffic volumes, heavy loads, or extreme temperatures requiring enhanced performance

Answer

PMA is used where enhanced rutting resistance, improved fatigue life, or better low-temperature cracking resistance is required, such as high-traffic or extreme climate locations.

Question 5

During HMA production, if the aggregate gradation consistently plots above the maximum density line (MDL) on a 0.45-power gradation chart, the mix is considered:

Accepted Answer

Too fine, with an excess of fines relative to coarse aggregate

Answer

Gradation plotting above the MDL on a 0.45-power chart indicates excess fine material in the aggregate blend, which can increase binder demand and reduce stability.

(PIC) Paving Inspector Certification Practice Test

(PIC) Paving Inspector Certification Practice Test

PIC PIC Mix Design & Specification Compliance 2