Asphalt Pavement Density
Increasing the in-place density of asphalt pavement has a significant positive impact on its overall lifespan. Higher density improves resistance to moisture infiltration, load-bearing capacity, and resistance to rutting and deformation. Denser asphalt pavement withstands greater stresses, resulting in increased durability, extended service life, and reduced maintenance requirements.
Reference Materials
Density Resources
Links to external pages with valuable asphalt pavement density information.
- Six Quick Keys to Achieve Density
- FHWA Tech Brief: Overcoming Obstacles to Achieving Density (HIF 21-022)
- FHWA Tech Brief: Techniques and Tools for Improving Density (HIF 21-021)
- FHWA Tech Brief: Density Demonstration Projects and Related Specifications (HIF 21-020)
- Asphalt Institute: Increased In-Place Density Initiative
- Specifying and Measuring Asphalt Pavement Density to Ensure Pavement Performance (NCHRP Report 856)
Research Reports
NCAT Density Reports
FHWA Demonstration Project for Enhanced Durability of Asphalt Pavements Through Increased In-Place Pavement Density.
Phase Reports
Meeting Materials
Meeting Presentations
Click any presentation to view or download.
Demonstrations Project, Related Specifications and Techniques for Improving Density — Randy West
Summarizes FHWA's 29 demonstration projects related to increasing in-place density from 2016 to 2019. Highlights good examples of specifications and observations of common changes made in mix designs and construction operations to increase density levels.
Enhanced Durability Through Increased In-Place Pavement Density — Mark Buncher
The Asphalt Institute partnered with FHWA to deliver a workshop on enhanced durability through increased density to 25 state DOTs in 2016–2017, demonstrating how pavement durability increases dramatically with small increases to in-place density.
Improving Density, State of Practice: Dielectric (Density) Profiling System — Kyle Hoegh
Covers the basics of the dielectric/density profiling systems (DPS) and how the method can be used to improve asphalt pavement density, including two 2022 construction season case studies demonstrating on-site and post-processing analysis.
Superpave5 — Matt Beeson
Superpave5 designs mixes at 5% air voids in the lab targeting 5% in-place air voids (95% density). Indiana DOT implemented Superpave5 in 2019, seeing ~1.5% density improvement without increases in asphalt content, aggregate changes, or increased rutting.