Asphalt Testing: Best Practices for Longevity and Safety

We’re all familiar with the orange cones and drums along the road, the hot steam coming out of the trucks and pavement, and the train or compactors rolling over the recently placed asphalt. Sometimes, that’s the entertaining part of the morning commute. Depending on the outside temperature, the asphalt placing process can be pleasant or…well, sweaty! Bituminous asphalt is the most common material for the surface of roads. Many factors affect its popularity however; its life cycle analysis can affect the perception and popularity of this material.

Behind this familiar road construction scene lies a critical process: asphalt testing. This comprehensive quality control system ensures every mile of pavement meets safety and durability standards.

How Asphalt Differs from Concrete

Asphalt is a very different material from concrete. For the end user, they are fairly similar: "they will run it over with their car." For us in the construction industry, most of us will pick a side – concrete or asphalt.

Although they can seem to be very different, concrete and asphalt share similarities. Both depend on a binding agent, gradation is key, placement means and methods are critical for success, and timing makes a big difference. Furthermore, they both have to be tested! Quality control and quality assurance processes are as critical as concrete testing procedures, which is why comprehensive construction materials testing protocols are essential for both materials.

The Foundation: Subgrade Preparation & Asphalt Testing

Any paving operation starts with a bunch of rocks. Wait! What? Whether they’re part of the subgrade material or part of the mix (concrete or asphalt), it all starts with a bunch of rocks.

The subgrade is extremely important as the asphalt is a flexible pavement, and any movement or distress in the subgrade will be transferred to the pavement. That's how some potholes are formed. This is where geotechnical engineering expertise becomes crucial for proper soil analysis and foundation design.

Ensuring a good, properly compacted subgrade helps the asphalt pavement last longer and meet its purpose. The soil compaction is based on a percentage of the maximum possible compaction of that soil based on ASTM D698 or ASTM D1557. The level of compaction in the field is typically determined using a nuclear density gauge.

Asphalt Mix Design & Quality Control

During the design process of the asphalt mixture, gradation of the aggregates is determined as well as asphalt content and other parameters. Once the mixes are approved by the local authorities, they can be used in projects. During production and placing of asphalt, the journey of the asphalt is quite interesting.

Many checks and balances exist to ensure that the asphaltic material being produced meets the specifications and will be safe to drive on. These checks and balances are in the form of asphalt testing performed by Quality Control and Quality Assurance personnel using specialized CMT software designed for modern laboratories.

Asphalt Testing Combines Field & Laboratory Procedures

Asphalt testing combines both field and laboratory procedures to ensure quality. From the plant, samples are collected, commonly known as "chicken buckets." These samples – although steaming hot and in a very familiar container – are not seasoned with 11 herbs and spices. These samples are brought to the laboratory for testing using specialized software systems.

At the lab, technicians determine the asphalt content, the gradation of the aggregates and other parameters of the mix. This is what is called "extraction." The results from these tests are relayed back to the producer for adjustments as needed and to the inspector on site to confirm compliance.

Omnant provides your laboratory with an easy-to-use interface and an automated report creation form. Our platform speeds up the process of completing the tests, performing accurate and consistent calculations and distributing the results with just a couple of clicks. This is the power of an end-to-end laboratory information management system that was engineered for construction materials testing.

Field Inspection & Compaction Testing

In the field, an inspector needs to verify the level of compaction of the placed asphalt. To accomplish this, the inspector uses a nuclear density gauge on backscatter mode. Learn more about essential construction materials testing equipment used in modern projects.

Omnant helps inspection and testing companies to be there on time, with the right equipment and send competent personnel via an integrated scheduling system. Our scheduling component will help the laboratory ensure that the inspector going to the site has the appropriate certifications and is bringing equipment that's calibrated and in good working order through our equipment monitoring system.

Once the day’s tasks are scheduled, Omnant generates a report prefilled with project details and assigned activities. The inspector then completes it by adding testing results and observations.

As asphalt is placed, the inspector uses a nuclear density gauge to confirm compaction and guide the rolling pattern. Omnant streamlines the gauge readings, letting the inspector capture density values and GPS-tagged locations directly in the system throughout the day.

Core Sampling & Laboratory Analysis

Simultaneously, pavement cores are taken for the surface and binder material. The number of cores as well as the size will depend on local regulations. These cores are used to confirm layer thickness and also taken to the laboratory to confirm density of the material. Omnant's integrated laboratory forms ease the process of testing and reporting the results of each sample.

Reporting & Documentation

After the paving is completed, it's time to prepare the reports following document control best practices to ensure accuracy and compliance. As mentioned before, the moment the project is scheduled, Omnant pre-generates the field report. Now it's a matter of adding the inspector's observations, field testing results, and pictures.

Omnant provides an agile framework that allows the user to efficiently review and send the reports to an existing distribution. Last minute addition to the routing list? No problem! Just add them during the approval process of the report.

As local agencies invest in their proprietary material testing forms, Omnant evolves and provides special customization for your reports. Omnant is here to help. Our software dynamically changes to fit your needs, and we can provide custom forms to match your local DOT requirements.

The Importance of Coordinated Asphalt Testing

Asphalt testing involves a tightly choreographed sequence—beginning with subgrade compaction and mix design validation, moving into field density mapping and core sampling, and finishing with tailored reporting. Omnant’s all-in-one digital platform brings every step under one roof: automated scheduling assigns certified inspectors complete with calibrated equipment; field teams then capture GPS-tagged density readings and core-sample analyses in real time; and the system instantly compiles those inputs into custom, audit-ready reports.

By unifying field and lab workflows, Omnant spots deviations at the earliest stages—long before minor issues become costly repairs. Schedule your Omnant demo today and pave the way to stronger, longer-lasting roads!