T 230 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING

Standard Method of Test for

Determining Degree of Pavement Compaction of Bituminous Aggregate Mixtures

AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 230-68

1. SCOPE above location. (See Appendix A for 4. DEGREE OF PAVEMENT

typical method.) COMPACTION
1.1 This method describes the procedures 3.1.2.2 Method B-When the sample is to
for determining the degree of pavement be cored, pre-identifying the location of 4.1 The degree of compaction shall be
compaction of a bituminous-aggregate the sample may be eliminated. When the determined by dividing the specific
mixture as related to standard specimens coring operation has been completed, gravity of the pavement specimens by the
composed of the same- materials and carefully remove sample by use of the specific gravity of the standard
within the tolerance of the job mix core retriever. When the maximum specimens and shall be expressed as a
formula. nominal size aggregate in the pavement is percentage:
25 nun or less, a 100 mm (4 in.) diameter
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be bit or larger shall be used. When the Degree of Compaction =
regarded as the standard. maximum nominal size aggregate is over Pavement Sp Gr
X 100
25 mm a 150-mm (6-in.) diameter bit Standard Specimen Sp Gr
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS shall be used.
3.1.2.3 Method C-The sample may be
APPENDIX A
obtained by the Density Ring Method.
2.1 AASHTO Standards:
(See Appendix B.)
T 166 Bulk Specific Gravity of Al. OBTAINING A SQUARE OF
3.1.2.4 After the pavement sample has
Compacted Bituminous COMPACTED PAVEMENT
been cut or cored, it should be carefully
Mixtures
removed. Care should be exercised that
T 167 Compressive Strength of the sample is not distorted, bent, cracked,
Bituminous Mixtures A1.1 Place a 300-mm (12-in.) square
or in any way changed from its physical of cardboard, light sheet metal or metal
2.2 ASTM Standard: condition as it was before removal from foil on the particular lane that is being
D 2950 Density of Bituminous the pavement. The sample should then be paved. It should not be placed any closer
Concrete in Place by Nuclear forwarded to the laboratory. If for any than 0.6 m (2 ft) from the edge of the
Method reason there should be a delay in lane or from a longitudinal joint. Tie in
shipping the sample to the laboratory, it the four comers of the square by
should be placed in a safe, cool place. measuring from known points and
3. SAMPLING AND TESTING 3.1.2.5 Complete identification informa- recording the distances. After the pave-
tion should be submitted with the sample. ment is laid and compacted, nail redheads
3.1 Removing the sample from the 3.2 Determination of Specific Gravity of (nails with a square of red cloth attached
compacted pavement. the Sample Taken From the Compacted to their heads), in the four comers of the
3.1.1 Equipment: Pavement: square beneath the pavement. This will
identify the location of the sample when
3.1.1.1 Any tool suitable for removing 3.2.1 The specific gravity of the sample
it is to be cut out and removed.
intact a square, circle, or core of shall be determined in accordance with T
compacted pavement for the full depth of 166. A1.2 By using either an impact chisel
the course or courses. An impact chisel, a or a diamond blade saw, make cuts in the
3.3 Determination of specific
diamond blade pavement saw, a steel pavement connecting the four measured
gravity/density of the compacted
density ring, or a diamond bit core drill points. This will furnish a sample of
pavement by nuclear gauge.
are suitable for this purpose. The core pavement 300 by 300 mm (12 by 12 in.)
3.3.1 The specific gravity/density of that can easily be removed as the bond is
drill should be equipped to core and the compacted pavement may be
retrieve specimens approximately 100 to broken directly by the cardboard, or sheet
determined in place by testing in metal or metal foil.
150 mm (4 or 6 in.) in diameter. The accordance with ASTM D 2950, "Density
density ring shall be approximately 150 of Bituminous Concrete in Place by
mm (6 in.) I.D. and approximately 6.4 Nuclear Method." APPENDIX B
mm (¼ in.) less in height than the
3.4 Standard Specimens: Density Ring Method
thickness of the compacted course.
3.1.1.2 A rigid plate or suitable container 3.4.1 Standard specimens shall be
large enough to hold the sample without prepared from a representative sample of B1. APPARATUS
distortion after it is removed from the the mix to be tested for compaction, in
pavement. accordance with T 167 or other
acceptable methods. B1.1 Density Ring-The density ring
3.1.2 Procedure: shall be of steel, approximately 150 mm
3.5 Determination of the specific gravity (6 in.) inside diameter and approximately
3.1.2.1 Method A-A suitable material of of a standard laboratory compacted
appropriate size for preventing the bond 6.4 mm (¼ in.) less in height than the
specimen. thickness of the compacted layer of
between pavement layers shall be placed
and its location identified. After 3.5.1 The specific gravity of the asphalt mix from which the specimen is
pavement has been laid and compacted, standard specimens shall be determined to be removed.
cut and remove a square sample from in accordance with T 166.

429
T 230 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING

wire may be attached to the ring to aid in

removal of the ring and specimen from
the compacted pavement. All edges of
the split ring, including the cut section,
shall be deburred and made smooth by
filing.

B2. PROCEDURE

B2.1 On the base or leveling course on

which the asphalt mix is being placed,
and at the selected location, place the
density ring with beveled edge down
ahead of the spreading operation. If
desired, a piece of aluminum foil slightly
larger than the density ring may be
placed between the ring and the base or
leveling course.
B2.2 A string may be attached to the
short wire affixed to the density ring and
led to an area outside the spreading
operation. After the spreading machine
has passed over the density ring, but
before rolling operations are begun, the
string and wire are lifted thm the
uncompacted mix and left on the surface.
After rolling operations are complete, the
string and wire are lifted from the surface
to the location of the density ring and
enclosed specimen. By means of the
attached wire, and with the aid of a pry
(large screwdriver will do), the density
ring and the enclosed specimen shall be
removed from the pavement. Dry ice in a
plastic bag may be used to cool the
compacted mix before the ring and
specimen are removed. After the ring and
B1.1.1 Rings of the required height may B1.13 The wall shall be cut through at specimen are removed, material near the
be cut from low carbon, cold drawn, one location as shown in Figure 1. The upper edge (above the density ring)
seamless, mechanical tubing-150 mm cut section shall be approximately 1.6 which may have been loosened or
I.D., 6.4 mm (6 in. I.D.; ¼ in.) wall mm (1/16 in.) wide, or as cut by the saw disturbed during the removal operation,
thickness. blade. If the cut should open more than is shall be trimmed from the undisturbed
desirable, it may be brought back to the portion of the specimen.
B1.1.2 The lower part of the outside wall
of the ring shall be cut on a bevel desired dimension by compressing the B2.3 To remove the specimen from the
(approximately 20°) until the bottom open-ring in a vise. ring, a strong screwdriver is inserted into
edge is approximately 3.2 mm (1/8 in.) B1.1.4 A hole approximately 3.2 mm (⅛ the cut-section and turned to expand the
wide. The ring shall be trued so that the in.) in diameter shall be drilled in the ring ring and allow the specimen to drop out,
top and bottom edges are parallel to each wall opposite the cut section. The center or to be pushed out. Care must be
other and perpendicular to the inside of the hole shall be approximately 4.8 exercised so the compacted specimen
wall. mm (3/16 in.) from the upper edge of the will not be deformed during the removal
ring. By means of the hole, a suitable operation.

430