Gilson Insights

Balanced Mix Design is a practical and common-sense approach to constructing long-lasting asphalt pavements. The design of asphalt mixes traditionally follows a prescriptive, volumetric path. Materials are selected and combined to meet the requirements of the specification with little evidence of what their real performance will be in a localized application or a certain environment. Researchers and practitioners alike have concluded that just mixing the specified ingredients in the stated volumes is a poor predictor of long-term asphalt pavement performance. As one prominent paving engineer put it, “Let’s stop using the recipe to determine if the cake is good.”

Asphalt binder is a fundamental and surprisingly complex component in the design of modern asphalt pavement mixes. Of the many properties of bitumen that affect its performance in a modern asphalt paving mixture, two are crucial to the long-term success of pavements, viscosity, and rheology. This blog post will explore binder viscosity tests and rheology tests, their applications, benefits, and testing equipment.

This blog post will focus on the core drilling method and the core sampling equipment. We discuss why and how core samples are taken from asphalt and concrete. Lastly, we touch on some of the different lab tests performed.

In this month's blog, we examine the civil engineering laboratory equipment needed for typical operations performed where field laboratories for construction materials testing are required. With so many possible variations in specific project requirements, we break it down by application.

In this blog, it will discuss setting up and furnishing temporary field-testing labs with essential laboratory equipment. Field labs are generally limited to a few particular tests, but no matter the material, most require the same essentials to measure properties like size, weight, and moisture.

Maximum strength with minimum deformation. Get an in-depth look at how the Marshall method is used to attain optimum asphalt content.

Superpave’s origins came from simple questions that ballooned into complex, numerous offshoots as time passed and funding permitted. In this blog post, we discuss the impact of Superpave from the perspective of mix design, construction materials testing, and equipment for the lab.

A multilayer asphalt design must perform as a single unit to withstand heavy traffic loads. In our latest blog, we’re taking a look at how asphalt tack coat is used to strengthen pavements, and how shear strength is tested to ensure optimal performance.

A basic load frame offers flexibility to become a multi-functional testing apparatus simply by adding or removing individual components designed for specific soil tests – and your testing needs. This blog post explores what to consider in determining the right type of load frame, as well as components and fixtures to select from that, can adapt it for different tests and ensure efficiency in the materials testing lab.

The Asphalt Rice Test is commonly used in determining theoretical maximum or asphalt specific gravity in accordance with ASTM and AASHTO standards. This blog post covers what you should know about the test and equipment available to help ensure testing in compliance with ASTM D2041 and AASHTO T 209.