©BRIGHSTARS 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
3510 student questions: asphalt Exam
Questions With Correct Answers.
What is the difference between hot mix asphalt and cold mix asphalt - Answer✔HMA uses heat
to decrease the viscosity of the asphalt binder while CMA uses an emulsifier to lower the
viscosity.
how does temperature effect the viscosity of the asphalt mix? - Answer✔increasing temperature
increases the viscosity
-- i think the person is wrong, it should be the higher the temp the lower the viscosity
name 2 uses for asphalt emulsions - Answer✔patching, slurry seals
what are 3 reasons for the decrease in use of cutback asphalts? - Answer✔1) Environmental
Regulations - They were harmful to ecosystems and watersheds.
2) Safety - The fumes were dangerous to workers.
3) Cost - Cutbacks (like gasoline) often have better uses and are expensive to begin with.
name three benefits of using a filler additive in an asphalt mix - Answer✔(Any three of the
following are acceptable)— Higher density, fewer voids, better stability, better bond between
aggregate and binder, better gradation
what does CMS-1h asphalt mean? - Answer✔cationic, medium setting, 1 viscosity (low), hard
in an asphalt emulsion CSS-1h, what does SS stand for? - Answer✔slow setting
how does the viscosity of AC binder change over time? - Answer✔as time increases the viscosity
increases
define asphalt cement and asphalt concrete. give uses for each - Answer✔Asphalt cement is the
binder, which is black and sticky. It is used for sealing and waterproofing.
Asphalt concrete is the asphalt binder plus the aggregates. It is used mainly for hot mix asphalt
pavements (HMA).
as temperature increases, viscosity increases or decreases? - Answer✔decreases, as temperature
increases the asphalt become more runny
1|Page
, ©BRIGHSTARS 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
what does an asphalt cutback consist of? - Answer✔asphalt concrete and solvent
what is the cause of rutting - Answer✔low viscosity and high temperatures with the asphalt
T/F: rutting occurs when asphalt is too soft as a result of high temperature and low viscosity -
Answer✔true
Which is of these is not a component of the Drum Mix Plant?
A. RAP Bin
B. Dryer/Mixer
C. Asphalt Storage Tanks
D. Secondary Collector
E. Batch Tower - Answer✔E. Batch Tower: Batch tower is not part of the Drum Mix plant
process rather is a part of the Batch Plant production and the drum mix it goes straight from the
slat conveyor.
What percentage does asphalt cement binder make up an asphalt pavement mix?
A. 30%
B. 5%
C. 12%
D. 19% - Answer✔B. 5%
name at least 4 types of asphalt distress - Answer✔alligator cracking, bleeding, block cracking,
rutting
if you are trying to increase tensile strength in your asphalt what additive would you add? -
Answer✔fibers
what happens to binder viscosity as temperature increases? - Answer✔viscosity decreases
(binder becomes more liquid)
how do fibers effect asphalt mix? - Answer✔increases tensile strength and cohesion of the mix
what liquid is a low viscosity asphalt most like? - Answer✔water
what happens if asphalt is too viscous - Answer✔becomes too brittle, causing thermal cracking
why are asphalt emulsions used? - Answer✔the emulsions allow the asphalt to be placed at
colder temperatures
is asphalt more or less viscous in hot climates? - Answer✔less viscous (more flowable)
2|Page
3510 student questions: asphalt Exam
Questions With Correct Answers.
What is the difference between hot mix asphalt and cold mix asphalt - Answer✔HMA uses heat
to decrease the viscosity of the asphalt binder while CMA uses an emulsifier to lower the
viscosity.
how does temperature effect the viscosity of the asphalt mix? - Answer✔increasing temperature
increases the viscosity
-- i think the person is wrong, it should be the higher the temp the lower the viscosity
name 2 uses for asphalt emulsions - Answer✔patching, slurry seals
what are 3 reasons for the decrease in use of cutback asphalts? - Answer✔1) Environmental
Regulations - They were harmful to ecosystems and watersheds.
2) Safety - The fumes were dangerous to workers.
3) Cost - Cutbacks (like gasoline) often have better uses and are expensive to begin with.
name three benefits of using a filler additive in an asphalt mix - Answer✔(Any three of the
following are acceptable)— Higher density, fewer voids, better stability, better bond between
aggregate and binder, better gradation
what does CMS-1h asphalt mean? - Answer✔cationic, medium setting, 1 viscosity (low), hard
in an asphalt emulsion CSS-1h, what does SS stand for? - Answer✔slow setting
how does the viscosity of AC binder change over time? - Answer✔as time increases the viscosity
increases
define asphalt cement and asphalt concrete. give uses for each - Answer✔Asphalt cement is the
binder, which is black and sticky. It is used for sealing and waterproofing.
Asphalt concrete is the asphalt binder plus the aggregates. It is used mainly for hot mix asphalt
pavements (HMA).
as temperature increases, viscosity increases or decreases? - Answer✔decreases, as temperature
increases the asphalt become more runny
1|Page
, ©BRIGHSTARS 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
what does an asphalt cutback consist of? - Answer✔asphalt concrete and solvent
what is the cause of rutting - Answer✔low viscosity and high temperatures with the asphalt
T/F: rutting occurs when asphalt is too soft as a result of high temperature and low viscosity -
Answer✔true
Which is of these is not a component of the Drum Mix Plant?
A. RAP Bin
B. Dryer/Mixer
C. Asphalt Storage Tanks
D. Secondary Collector
E. Batch Tower - Answer✔E. Batch Tower: Batch tower is not part of the Drum Mix plant
process rather is a part of the Batch Plant production and the drum mix it goes straight from the
slat conveyor.
What percentage does asphalt cement binder make up an asphalt pavement mix?
A. 30%
B. 5%
C. 12%
D. 19% - Answer✔B. 5%
name at least 4 types of asphalt distress - Answer✔alligator cracking, bleeding, block cracking,
rutting
if you are trying to increase tensile strength in your asphalt what additive would you add? -
Answer✔fibers
what happens to binder viscosity as temperature increases? - Answer✔viscosity decreases
(binder becomes more liquid)
how do fibers effect asphalt mix? - Answer✔increases tensile strength and cohesion of the mix
what liquid is a low viscosity asphalt most like? - Answer✔water
what happens if asphalt is too viscous - Answer✔becomes too brittle, causing thermal cracking
why are asphalt emulsions used? - Answer✔the emulsions allow the asphalt to be placed at
colder temperatures
is asphalt more or less viscous in hot climates? - Answer✔less viscous (more flowable)
2|Page
