Asphalt Exam UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Types of asphalt mixes - CORRECT ANSWER - Dense graded, open graded friction
course, stone matrix asphalt (SMA), sand mixes, sheet asphalt mixes
Dense graded - CORRECT ANSWER - Standard asphalt mixes of various quality and
grades
Open graded friction course - CORRECT ANSWER - Surface course consisting high % of
one sized coarse agg to create high voids (16-23%) that results in rapid drainage of rainwater to
reduce hydroplaning, improve skid resistance, reducing splash and spray, and reduced tire
pavement noise
Stone matrix Asphalt (SMA) - CORRECT ANSWER - Special gap graded (but dense)
mixture with high proportion of coarse agg to give very good point to point agg contact and high
rutting resistance. Special fillers and polymer modifiers used to make asphalt cement sufficiently
viscous to avoid drainage during placing
Sand mixes - CORRECT ANSWER - Sand only mixes (good finish - low quality?)
Sheet asphalt mixes - CORRECT ANSWER - Clean, angular graded sand with mineral
fillers used for reservoir liners and landfill caps - low permeability
Asphalt can be.. - CORRECT ANSWER - Hot, warm or cold; new or recycled materials
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASPHALT AND PC CONC - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt
has higher proportion of agg (~95%) than conc (~65%)
Asphalt cement is much more flexible than hardened Portland cement
In asphalt, agg particles are in contact; no interparticle contact in conc
Concrete hardens through chem reactions; asphalt hardens through evaporation or cooling
, Asphalt vs PC conc - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt weaker, more flexible therefore used
in pavements
Conc stronger, stiffer; therefore used in structures
Type of asphalts cement (often called "binder") - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt cement,
liquid asphalts (cutbacks and emulsions), air blown asphalt*
Asphalt cement - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary residuum from refinery most commonly
used for hot mix asphalt (HMA)
Liquid asphalts (cutbacks and emulsions) - CORRECT ANSWER - Liquid at room
temperature, easy to mix with agg, used primarily for road repairs and surface seals
Lighter and more volatile products such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil... - CORRECT
ANSWER - Are removed and the residue is asphalt cement
Fractional distillation of crude petroleum - CORRECT ANSWER - Different products are
separated at various temperatures
Some crude oil sources have more asphalt residue than others.. - CORRECT ANSWER -
And quality and characteristics of asphalt will vary from source to source
Cutbacks - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt cement mixed with volatile solvent
Emulsified asphalt - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt cement mixed with water
Liquid asphalts - CORRECT ANSWER - Often used for chip seals, microsurfacing, fog
seals
and CORRECT Answers
Types of asphalt mixes - CORRECT ANSWER - Dense graded, open graded friction
course, stone matrix asphalt (SMA), sand mixes, sheet asphalt mixes
Dense graded - CORRECT ANSWER - Standard asphalt mixes of various quality and
grades
Open graded friction course - CORRECT ANSWER - Surface course consisting high % of
one sized coarse agg to create high voids (16-23%) that results in rapid drainage of rainwater to
reduce hydroplaning, improve skid resistance, reducing splash and spray, and reduced tire
pavement noise
Stone matrix Asphalt (SMA) - CORRECT ANSWER - Special gap graded (but dense)
mixture with high proportion of coarse agg to give very good point to point agg contact and high
rutting resistance. Special fillers and polymer modifiers used to make asphalt cement sufficiently
viscous to avoid drainage during placing
Sand mixes - CORRECT ANSWER - Sand only mixes (good finish - low quality?)
Sheet asphalt mixes - CORRECT ANSWER - Clean, angular graded sand with mineral
fillers used for reservoir liners and landfill caps - low permeability
Asphalt can be.. - CORRECT ANSWER - Hot, warm or cold; new or recycled materials
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASPHALT AND PC CONC - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt
has higher proportion of agg (~95%) than conc (~65%)
Asphalt cement is much more flexible than hardened Portland cement
In asphalt, agg particles are in contact; no interparticle contact in conc
Concrete hardens through chem reactions; asphalt hardens through evaporation or cooling
, Asphalt vs PC conc - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt weaker, more flexible therefore used
in pavements
Conc stronger, stiffer; therefore used in structures
Type of asphalts cement (often called "binder") - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt cement,
liquid asphalts (cutbacks and emulsions), air blown asphalt*
Asphalt cement - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary residuum from refinery most commonly
used for hot mix asphalt (HMA)
Liquid asphalts (cutbacks and emulsions) - CORRECT ANSWER - Liquid at room
temperature, easy to mix with agg, used primarily for road repairs and surface seals
Lighter and more volatile products such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil... - CORRECT
ANSWER - Are removed and the residue is asphalt cement
Fractional distillation of crude petroleum - CORRECT ANSWER - Different products are
separated at various temperatures
Some crude oil sources have more asphalt residue than others.. - CORRECT ANSWER -
And quality and characteristics of asphalt will vary from source to source
Cutbacks - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt cement mixed with volatile solvent
Emulsified asphalt - CORRECT ANSWER - Asphalt cement mixed with water
Liquid asphalts - CORRECT ANSWER - Often used for chip seals, microsurfacing, fog
seals
