Predicting field permeability from testing hot-mix asphalt specimens produced by Superpave gyratory compactor

This study was conducted to develop laboratory and field permeability testing procedures for design and quality control of Superpave (R) mixtures in Wisconsin. Sixteen mixes including fine-graded and coarse-graded mixes were evaluated. The in-place field permeability was measured by using the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) device, field cores were taken for measuring permeability in the laboratory by using the ASTM D5084 method, and laboratory compaction was used to prepare and test samples from loose mixtures recovered from the field. Two compaction procedures called Method A and Method B were used in this study to produce Superpave gyratory compacted (SGC) specimens that have thickness, air voids, and aggregate orientation similar to the field cores. Result indicates that Method B, based on the use of Ndesign gyrations for different sample sizes, can be used to produce samples that give permeability values similar to values measured for field cores. Results of this study also indicate a good relationship between field permeability (using the NCAT device) and lab permeability measured on field cores of fine-graded mixes with the amount passing No. 8 sieve (P8) higher than 45%. However, the relationship between field permeability and lab permeability measured on field cores of coarse-graded mix (P8 lower than 40%) is poor. It is concluded that the NCAT permeability device could possibly be used in the field for fine-graded mix (with P8 higher than 45%). However, to measure the field permeability of coarse-graded mix (P8 lower than 40%), there appears to be no current alternative better than taking field cores and testing them in the laboratory. For estimating permeability during mixture design, a simple method for preparing and testing permeability of SGC specimens and interpolating based on expected field density is introduced.