Evaluation of Nevada's 1995-1997 HMA Mixtures

Abstract

Recently, there have been dramatic changes in traffie volumes, axle loads, and tire pressures. Total traffic volumes have been steadily increasing and, consequently, the percentage of heavy trucks using the highway system. The legal axle load limits have also increased for both the single and tandem groups. Recent surveys of all of the state highway agencies have indicated that ninety percent of the agencies currently impose a single axle load limit between 20 and 22 kips, while only one agency still imposes an 18-kip single axle load limit (1). Along with these changes comes more pressure to produce higher quality material and more refined pavement design procedures which are capable of providing higher quality and longer lasting roads. All of these requirements are still coming at times when the available funds for highway construction are either decreasing or holding steady. This situation calls for optimization at the various levels of materials design, pavement design, and pavement evaluation.