Abstract: A system for conducting a maximum specific gravity test includes a sealable container for receiving and holding an asphalt mixture sample, a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the container for evacuating the container, a valve in fluid communication with the container, a shaker for shaking the container, and a controller. The controller can operate the system in a test mode by: (i) turning on the vacuum pump; (ii) automatically monitoring a vacuum pressure in the container with the vacuum pump on; (iii) automatically turning on the shaker when the monitored vacuum pressure reaches a target vacuum pressure value; (iv) automatically opening or closing the valve such that the monitored vacuum pressure in the container is maintained within a target vacuum pressure range for a predetermined period of time with the shaker on; and (v) automatically turning the shaker off at the end of the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A wheel-tracking test device includes a housing, one or more test chambers in the housing, one or more load arm assemblies, and a drive mechanism. Each test chamber is configured to receive and hold one or more asphalt test samples. Each load arm assembly includes a weighted loading arm and a wheel rotatably connected to the loading arm. The drive mechanism is configured to move the load arm assembly from a load position in which the wheel is on a test sample held in the test chamber and a rest position by retracting the loading arm such that the wheel is lifted off the test sample.

Abstract: A system for conducting a maximum specific gravity test includes a sealable container for receiving and holding an asphalt mixture sample, a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the container for evacuating the container, a valve in fluid communication with the container, a shaker for shaking the container, and a controller. The controller can operate the system in a test mode by: (i) turning on the vacuum pump; (ii) automatically monitoring a vacuum pressure in the container with the vacuum pump on; (iii) automatically turning on the shaker when the monitored vacuum pressure reaches a target vacuum pressure value; (iv) automatically opening or closing the valve such that the monitored vacuum pressure in the container is maintained within a target vacuum pressure range for a predetermined period of time with the shaker on; and (v) automatically turning the shaker off at the end of the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. An infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. Various parameters may be used to determine if the drying process is complete, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. An infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. Various parameters may be used to determine if the drying process is complete, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber.

Abstract: A wheel-tracking test device includes a housing, one or more test chambers in the housing, one or more load arm assemblies, and a drive mechanism. Each test chamber is configured to receive and hold one or more asphalt test samples. Each load arm assembly includes a weighted loading arm and a wheel rotatably connected to the loading arm. The drive mechanism is configured to move the load arm assembly from a load position in which the wheel is on a test sample held in the test chamber and a rest position by retracting the loading arm such that the wheel is lifted off the test sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. An infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. Various parameters may be used to determine if the drying process is complete, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber.

Abstract: A post-road surface maintenance field test device includes a frame, a plurality of wheels connected to the frame, a rotatable brush held at least partially by or within the frame, a drive mechanism configured to rotate the brush, and a collection member. The collection member is held at least partially by or within the frame and resides adjacent the rotatable brush. In operation, as the device is conveyed over a road surface, the drive mechanism rotates the brush and the brush engages loose aggregates and/or aggregates that are weakly bound to a bonding medium and urges the engaged aggregates into the collection member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. An infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. Various parameters may be used to determine if the drying process is complete, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber.

Abstract: A method for drying at least one sample of material includes: placing the at least one sample of material into an interior of a sealable chamber; sealing the chamber; applying a vacuum to the interior of the chamber; heating the at least one sample using electromagnetic energy while applying the vacuum to the interior of the chamber; electronically monitoring at least one condition in the interior of the chamber; and determining that the at least one sample is dry based on the at least one monitored condition.

Abstract: A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determination of susceptibility of asphalt concrete materials to moisture damage. An asphalt sample of known bulk specific gravity (density) is placed inside a chamber filled with water, which is capable of heating the sample to a predetermined temperature. The chamber is pressurized by introduction of air pressure to a flexible membrane that decreases the volume within a chamber containing the sample and water, increasing the pore pressure in the sample. The pressure is then released and allowed to come to ambient pressure. This process is repeated a predetermined number of times (cycles). When a selected number of cycles are complete, the asphalt sample is removed from the chamber and its bulk specific gravity (density) measured again. The difference between the density before and after conditioning is an excellent method of rating the degree at which moisture would deteriorate asphalt samples due to introduction of moisture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. An infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. Various parameters may be used to determine if the drying process is complete, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. Because evaporation may lower the temperature inside the sealable chamber, an infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber in response to the vacuum created by the vacuum pump. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. A load cell may be placed in the bottom of the sealable chamber to monitor the weight of a sample to determine if the drying process is complete. Other parameters could be used, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber.

Abstract: A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determination of susceptibility of asphalt concrete materials to moisture damage. An asphalt sample of known bulk specific gravity (density) is placed inside a chamber filled with water, which is capable of heating the sample to a pre-determined temperature. The chamber is pressurized by introduction of air pressure to a flexible membrane that decreases the volume within a chamber containing the sample and water, increasing the pore pressure in the sample. The pressure is then released and allowed to come to ambient pressure. This process is repeated a predetermined number of times (cycles). When a selected number of cycles are complete, the asphalt sample is removed from the chamber and its bulk specific gravity (density) measured again. The difference between the density before and after conditioning is an excellent method of rating the degree at which moisture would deteriorate asphalt samples due to introduction of moisture.

Abstract: A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid

Abstract: A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid