Asphalt Mix Design Class

The Asphalt Pavement Association of West Virginia (APA-WV) is offering an Asphalt Mix Design School designed around the WVDOH specifications and AASHTO & ASTM procedures.  Students will gain a working technical knowledge of the principles associated with asphalt concrete volumetric mix design for both Marshall and Superpave design methodologies. The course will conclude giving students the opportunity to take the WVDOH approved examination to obtain their Asphalt Mix Design Certification.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Asphalt producers developing Asphalt mix designs for work in West Virginia, WVDOH workers who approve and/or administer the Asphalt mix design and quality assurance measures, and others desiring a technical knowledge of asphalt mix design.

STUDENTS WILL LEARN:

• Properties and tests applicable to the selection of proper asphalt binders and aggregates to meet specification requirements;
• Volumetric analyses used in the Marshall and Superpave mix design methodologies;
• Other topics necessary to qualify for the examination for WVDOH approval;
• Laboratory testing methods necessary to complete both mix design types.

CONTACT HOURS OF INSTRUCTION: Students will have a combined 32 hours of instruction consisting of roughly 20 hours of in-classroom lecture and 12 hours of hands on laboratory instruction.  Students are required to participate in the laboratory sessions and should come dressed appropriately, i.e. closed toe shoes, long sleeves, and full length pants. Each student will be provided with heat resistant gloves.

COURSE PREREQUISITES: Individuals taking this course should be certified as a WVDOH Asphalt Plant Technician and students should have a thorough understanding of the basic concepts and calculations involved in the WVDOH Plant Technician course. The WVDOH Plant Technician Instruction manual can be found here from the WVDOH Materials Division.

PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE PROFICIENT WITH THE FOLLOWING:

• Tests - Maximum theoretical specific gravity (rice test), compaction of specimens by Marshall and/or Gyratory compactor, bulk gravity of compacted specimens, and gradations of aggregate
• Calculations – Aggregate specific gravity calculations (Effective and Bulk), mixture specific gravity (Bulk and Maximum), air voids in compacted mix, aggregate moisture, aggregate blending, random number, and rounding.

WHAT YOU NEED: Participants should bring with them a non-programmable calculator, ruler, implements for drawing graphs, and a 2023 WVDOH Specification Manual.

WHERE TO GO:  All session of the course (lecture and laboratory) will be located at the WVDOH - Materials Control, Soils and Testing Division office located at 190 Dry Branch Drive, Charleston, WV 25306