Effect on compaction effort on SuperPave surface course materials

SuperPave mixes have performed well with in West Virginia, especially with respects to permanent deformation. Recent studies raise concerns with premature fatigue cracking and difficulty in compaction during construction. Two surface course mixes were tested by lowering compaction effort from 100 gyrations to 80 gyrations and evaluating rutting potential with Asphalt Pavement Analyzer and Indirect Tension test. Only gyration level and binder percent were changed. Lower compaction effort resulted in an increased binder content of 0.4 to 0.6 percent. No statistically significant rutting potential was found with the lowered compaction effort or increased binder content. VFA values did not fall within the acceptable range of state criteria with the higher binder content.