Fundamentals of the Asphalt Industry
Asphalt Industry Glossary of Terms
This is an alphabetical listing of the terms and descriptions commonly used in the asphalt industry.
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Absolute Viscosity A measure of the viscosity of asphalt with respect to time, measured in poises, conducted at 60°C (140°F). The test method utilizes a partial vacuum to induce flow in the viscometer.
Aggregate
Spreaders
Machines used for spreading aggregate evenly at a uniform rate on a surface.
Aggregate Storage Bins that store the necessary aggregate sizes and feed them to the dryer in
Bins
substantially the same proportions as are required in the finished mix.
Aggregate Trucks
Trucks equipped with hydraulic lifts to dump the aggregate into the spreader or storage area.
Aggregate
A hard inert mineral material, such as gravel, crushed rock, slag, or crushed stone, used in pavement applications either by itself or for mixing with asphalt.
Air Voids
Internal spaces in a compacted mix surrounded by asphalt-coated particles, expressed as a percentage by volume of the total compacted mix.
Asphalt
(asphalt cement)
A dark brown to black cementitious material in which the predominating constituents are bitumens, which occur in nature or are obtained in petroleum processing. Asphalt is a constituent in varying proportions of most crude petroleum and used for paving, roofing, industrial and other special purposes.
Alligator Cracks
Interconnected cracks forming a series of small blocks resembling an alligator's skin or chicken-wire, and caused by excessive deflection of the surface over unstable subgrade or lower courses of the pavement.
Asphalt
Application
The application of sprayed asphalt coatings not involving the use of aggregates.
Asphalt Binder
Asphalt cement that is classified according to the Standard Specification for
Performance Graded Asphalt Binder, AASHTO
This is an alphabetical listing of the terms and descriptions commonly used in the asphalt industry.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
L
W
A
Absolute Viscosity A measure of the viscosity of asphalt with respect to time, measured in poises, conducted at 60°C (140°F). The test method utilizes a partial vacuum to induce flow in the viscometer.
Aggregate
Spreaders
Machines used for spreading aggregate evenly at a uniform rate on a surface.
Aggregate Storage Bins that store the necessary aggregate sizes and feed them to the dryer in
Bins
substantially the same proportions as are required in the finished mix.
Aggregate Trucks
Trucks equipped with hydraulic lifts to dump the aggregate into the spreader or storage area.
Aggregate
A hard inert mineral material, such as gravel, crushed rock, slag, or crushed stone, used in pavement applications either by itself or for mixing with asphalt.
Air Voids
Internal spaces in a compacted mix surrounded by asphalt-coated particles, expressed as a percentage by volume of the total compacted mix.
Asphalt
(asphalt cement)
A dark brown to black cementitious material in which the predominating constituents are bitumens, which occur in nature or are obtained in petroleum processing. Asphalt is a constituent in varying proportions of most crude petroleum and used for paving, roofing, industrial and other special purposes.
Alligator Cracks
Interconnected cracks forming a series of small blocks resembling an alligator's skin or chicken-wire, and caused by excessive deflection of the surface over unstable subgrade or lower courses of the pavement.
Asphalt
Application
The application of sprayed asphalt coatings not involving the use of aggregates.
Asphalt Binder
Asphalt cement that is classified according to the Standard Specification for
Performance Graded Asphalt Binder, AASHTO