Asphalt Performance Testing
BATT can perform the type of complex testing required to help contractors meet constantly evolving specifications.
BATT Asphalt Performance Testing —
Data-driven solutions for safer, more sustainable roadways
Friction Testing
Expect friction testing to continue to gain prominence in future roadway specification. Tests are ongoing at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) test track, and NCAT has led the way in the U.S. on friction testing and correlations with traffic and skid trailer data. Given the level of attention friction testing is receiving, it’s a good idea to begin establishing a relationship with a reliable testing resource.
On average, the BATT Lab can complete a friction test in 4 to 5 days. The entire testing process can determine the long-term friction properties of any aggregate or asphalt mix ahead of paving — and for a substantially lower cost, shorter time frame, and no risk to the traveling public — than waiting years to measure the pavement wear.
Will your mix pass DFT?
Future bids will need to consider how to increase the amount of polish-resistant aggregates, as many state agencies add requirements to ensure all pavement designs be submitted to a Dynamic Friction Test (DFT). DFT is a newer, more intuitive testing tool. It measures skid resistance with a rubber-padded plate that spins at highway-level speeds before dropping onto the surface of the asphalt test sample. This important advancement in testing enables agencies and contractors to quickly evaluate aggregate sources ahead of paving rather than waiting five to 10 years for highway results. Best of all, the DFT can travel from the lab to the field for real-time data and correlation.
Scuff Testing
Scuff testing is a specialized performance evaluation that measures how well an asphalt mix resists surface wear under high-shear, low-speed stress conditions—like those found at intersections, roundabouts, parking lots, and loading zones. These locations are prone to early surface failure due to vehicle turning, braking, and acceleration.
BATT is proud to offer the only asphalt scuff testing service in the U.S., using a state-of-the-art device designed to simulate real-world twisting and lateral tire forces. Our test evaluates a mix’s ability to resist raveling, gouging, tearing, and texture loss—issues that are not detected by standard rutting or cracking tests.
