Geomaterials Lab
The Geomaterials lab incorporates testing facilities for characterizing aggregates, asphalt binders, asphalt concretes and soils. Major testing capabilities include:
- Brookfield Rheometer for determining asphalt binder flow characteristics.
- Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) for characterizing asphalt binder visco-elastic properties at high temperatures.
- Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) for characterizing asphalt binder visco-elastic properties at low temperatures.
- Rolling Film Thin Oven for short term asphalt binder aging.
- Pressure Aging Vessel for long term binder aging.
- Gyratory Compactor for compacting asphalt concretes.
- Universal Testing Machine (UTM) capable of uniaxial/triaxial testing, as well as indirect tension and flexural stiffness testing under temperature controlled conditions.
- Wheel Rutting Device for accelerated determination of rutting resistance.
- Ignition oven for quick extraction of binder and binder content determination.
- Sieving system for aggregate grain size distribution.
- Miscellaneous specific gravity measuring devices.
- Asphalt binder and aggregate ovens.
It should be noted that the binder-related test procedures in this lab have been accredited by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) under the Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL) program and it is certified under the AASHTO R18 Protocol (www.amrl.org).
