UNB Asphalt Materials Lab

The renewed asphalt materials lab was opened in March 2018. The lab currently has the necessary equipment to design, produce and test asphalt mixtures.

The next generation of pavement engineers works as research assistants in the lab, supporting the industry to assess and understand the performance of asphalt mixtures, focusing on sustainable practices.

Space

It is located in the UNB Fredericton Head Hall Complex, room A7, and has an approximate 70 m² (750 sqft) area.

Equipment

  • Portable asphalt mixer with 5 gal capacity
  • Asphalt dispensing pot
  • 25°C Water tank with heater and circulator for specific gravity
  • Deaerator and vacuum pump
  • Micro-Deval
  • Viscometer and Temperature control
  • Digital Penetrometer
  • Superpave Gyratory Compactor
  • Automatic Marshall compactor
  • Water bath for samples conditioning
  • Digital Marshall Load Frame 50 KN capacity
  • Dynamic Testing System DTS-30 with 30 KN capacity
  • Environmental chamber capable of simulating temperatures from -40°C to +80°C

The laboratory users can also access the UNB soils lab (mechanical sieve shakers, proctor, CBR and direct shear equipment) and the concrete lab (wet masonry saw, core drill, end grinder, tile saw). Especial collaborations have been established with the UNB Department of chemical engineering to access other equipment, including the dynamic shear rheometer, optical tensiometer and FTIR.

Testing

The laboratory users are trained to follow the most updated AASHTO and ASTM standards.

  • Sieve Analysis
  • Relative density and Absorption
  • Sand Equivalent Test
  • Uncompacted Void Content of Fine Aggregate
  • Percent of Fractured Particles
  • Determination of Flat or/and Elongated Particles in Coarse Aggregate
  • Resistance to degradation by abrasion in the Micro-Deval apparatus

  • Viscosity of Asphalt Using Rotational Viscometer
  • Penetration
  • Softening Point
  • Float Test

  • Superpave volumetric design
  • Bulk Specific Gravity of Compacted Mixtures Using SSD Specimens
  • Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity and Density
  • Percent Air Voids in Compacted Mixtures
  • Effect of moisture on Asphalt concrete Mixtures
  • Preparation of specimens using the SuperPave Gyratory Compactor
  • Preparation of specimens using the Marshall apparatus
  • Marshall stability and flow
  • Performance Testing:
    • Surface frictional properties using the British Pendulum Tester
    • Dynamic Modulus and flow number
    • Fracture Potential Using I-FIT
    • Ideal CT
    • Ideal RT

Projects

Update of New Brunswick Asphalt Concrete Specification. New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. 2022-2024

Pavement Performance Evaluation of Rehabilitation Treatments. Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. 2021-2023.

Design of asphalt mixes using pyrolysis products. Mitacs-Vyterra Renewables Inc. 2022.

The Effects of Recycled HDPE in Asphalt Mixes. Soleno Maritimes Inc. 2021-2022

The Effect Of Biochar In Asphalt Mixtures. CanmetENERGY-Ottawa. 2019-2021

Beer Wastes to Bio-Binder. New Brunswick Innovation Fund (NBIF). 2019.

Use of Surface Free Energy Technique for Characterizing Moisture Damage. Dexter Construction Ltd. 2018.

Laboratory evaluation of potato brine solution on the skid resistance and macrotexture of asphalt concrete. NB Research and Productivity Council (RPC). 2018.

Feasibility of Incorporating Lead Slag into Hot Mix Asphalt. MAC-Johnson Controls Colombia SAS 2017.

Effect of Freezing and thawing cycles and deicer salts in the durability of Recycled Asphalt. Harrison McCain Foundation Young Scholars Award. 2017.

Effective Use of Recycled Asphalt Shingles for Granular Materials. PEI Department of Transportation & Public Works. 2017-2019.