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Asphalt Testing Articles

Why and How to Calibrate Retroreflectometer Units
Why and How to Calibrate Retroreflectometer Units

We are convinced that ensuring highway markings remain brilliantly visible at night is our top priority. Clear visibility isn't just a nice-to-have feature; it is a vital safety requirement during heavy downpours or thick morning haze. As the experts responsible for infrastructure, you recognize that maintaining that vital "glow" is the most effective method to prevent accidents before they occur.

Front Mounted Retroreflectometers vs Handheld Comparison
Front Mounted Retroreflectometers vs Handheld Comparison

If those road lines don't bounce light back to the driver, safety just vanishes. 

For the teams out there, hitting those ASTM E1710 or EN 1436 marks is a total requirement that can't be skipped. The big hurdle is picking a path that keeps your cash where it belongs while getting those numbers exactly right. 

At Qualitest, we see the choice between handheld vs front-mounted retroreflectometers as a way to get the absolute most for your investment, and we’ve got the tough, dependable tools to help you pick the winner.

Choosing Single-Angle vs Multi-Angle Retroreflectometers
Choosing Single-Angle vs Multi-Angle Retroreflectometers

How can you be certain your pavement stripes are actually throwing back enough light?

We think that having the hard data in your hand is the only real way to stop worrying about whether those lines are safe enough. To make the smartest choice for your crew, you’ve got to settle the single-angle vs multi-angle retroreflectometers debate once and for all.

We’re going to lay out the straight facts, including the latest research on angular range and adaptability, so you can find the hardware that keeps your business looking like the top-tier pros you are.

Road Marking Visibility & Safety Compliance Guide
Road Marking Visibility & Safety Compliance Guide

Are your road markings delivering the visibility you planned for?

Ensuring top-tier road safety is about more than just laying down fresh paint; it is about verifying that the paint performs when it matters most. For traffic engineers and contractors, confidence comes from hard data.

A retroreflectometer provides that proof. It measures how effectively a marking reflects light back to the source, quantifying night-time visibility by simulating a driver viewing the road ahead.

Here is how this instrument works and why it is the standard for professional assessment.

How to Do Superpave Mix Design: Step-by-Step Guide
How to Do Superpave Mix Design: Step-by-Step Guide

How to do superpave mix design - Superpave is a performance-based asphalt mix design system developed to improve pavement durability across varying climates and traffic conditions. Unlike older methods, Superpave is built to adapt. This method helps ensure your mix will stand up to the demands of its environment.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to do Superpave mix design step by step. We’ll also uncover the common challenges and tips to solve it to  create pavements that are built to perform.

Factors Affecting Asphalt Compaction and How to Control Them
Factors Affecting Asphalt Compaction and How to Control Them

There are plenty of factors affecting asphalt compaction. It can be the material properties and base layer conditions, the temperature outside, and even how the rollers are run.

So how do you keep compaction under control? In this article, Qualitest walks you through the key factors you need to watch out for, the right ways to test compaction both in the lab and on-site, and the best practices that help get the job done right.

The Best Way to Perform Asphalt Compaction Test: A Guide
The Best Way to Perform Asphalt Compaction Test: A Guide

How to perform asphalt compaction test begins with understanding the expectations of pavement surface and the lifespan against the stresses. Once it has been set, you can know what compaction levels it requires, which becomes your reference point during field testing.

Nuclear vs Non-Nuclear Asphalt Density Testing: What You Need to Know
Nuclear vs Non-Nuclear Asphalt Density Testing: What You Need to Know

The line between nuclear vs non-nuclear asphalt density testing still feels a little blurry, especially if you're not in the thick of fieldwork every day. Both methods aim to assess how well asphalt is compacted, but they use completely different technologies and principles to get the job done.

Asphalt Rice Test: How It’s Done
Asphalt Rice Test: How It’s Done

How to Perform the Rice Test for Asphalt — The heavy mix of asphalt, to be exact, isn’t just made up of the material itself but also contains air bubbles. These air voids can affect the asphalt’s strength and durability. In short, they play a big role in defining the overall quality of the material.

To help you better understand how the rice test works in asphalt testing, read this article carefully. Qualitest will also share the recommended tips at the end. Let’s get started.

Step-by-Step to Do Marshall Mix Design for Asphalt
Step-by-Step to Do Marshall Mix Design for Asphalt

Knowing how to do Marshall mix design is one of the most reliable ways to develop an asphalt mix that meets both structural and surface requirements. This method offers clear insights into asphalt formulations that perform well under real-world pavement conditions.