Equipment

Our laboratories are equipped with major tools and accessories needed for testing asphalt binders and mixes as per Superpave methods and other protocols. Other tools include those needed for the evaluation of surface science and physiochemical properties of construction materials. Our newest addition in the microscopy analyses is an atomic force microscope (AFM) for nanoscopic analysis of materials starting from asphalts to biological applications. Another one is the Pneumatic Adhesion Tensile Testing Instrument (PATTI) which can determine adhesive and cohesive failures of asphalt-aggregate constituents. Accessories include high shear mixer, pulverizing machine, precision saws and grinders. The research team has access or utilized a number of relevant testing devices such as SEM, NMR, FTIR, BET Analyzer and thermal analysis tools available in the engineering and other laboratories on the campus.

On the computational side, the team has engaged in atomic level simulations of paving materials using Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS). For design and analysis purposes, we use tools such as mechanistic empirical design guide (MEPDG), and Multimedia-based Highway Information System (MMHIS) in our recent and ongoing research projects.