NCHRP: Over 60 Years of Industry Research

Research is a vital part of the transportation industry. Highway agencies, universities, suppliers, contractors, and others are constantly looking for ways improve road safety, quality, and cost efficiency.  One such agency that has been a key driver of industry research for over 60 years is the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP).

In 1962, the Chief Executive Officers of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) realized that as the highway infrastructure became more complex, so did the challenges they faced.  They recognized the need for an objective and science based program that would cooperate to solve current problems shared by a majority of state DOT’s. This led to the creation of NCHRP. NCHRP research has led to many of the AASHTO specifications and guides that now exist for asphalt emulsion and pavement preservation. 

Today, this DOT-funded program continues to thrive under the management of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), with technical support from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  New research needs are identified and selected annually based upon input from highway and transportation departments, AASHTO committees, and the FHWA.  This cooperative approach stretches limited research dollars and provides objective, quality data.  NCHRP projects continue to pave the way in advancements to the transportation industry.

Interested to learn more about past and current asphalt emulsion pavement preservation research projects? A complete listing of all NCHRP research from 1962 to today is available on the TRB Website. Published data is also available for download. Below are a few recently completed and active projects.

https://www.trb.org/NCHRP/NCHRPProjects.aspx

NCHRP 09-62 [Completed 8/31/2022 Publication Pending]

Rapid Tests and Specifications for Construction of Asphalt-Treated Cold Recycled Pavements

The objectives of this research were to develop (1) time-critical tests for asphalt-treated CIR, FDR, and CCPR materials and (2) a guide specification using these tests for process control and product acceptance that provides the agency with a basis for determining when the pavement can be opened to traffic and surfaced.

NCHRP 14-44[Completed 3/1/2022]

Guide Specifications for the Construction of Slurry Seals, Scrub Seals, and Tack Coats

The objective of this research was to develop recommended guide specification for the construction of slurry seals, scrub seals, and tack coats as used in preservation treatments.

09-63 [Active]

A Calibrated and Validated National Performance-Related Specification for Emulsified Asphalt Binder

The objective of this research is to develop a national performance-related material specification for emulsified asphalt binder for use with chip seals and microsurfacing/slurry seals that (a) is similar in concept and format to AASHTO Standard Specifications M 320, Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder, and M 332, Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder Using Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) Test; (b) is calibrated and validated with performance data from field test sections; (c) uses readily available testing equipment (i.e., Superpave test equipment); and (d) reflects varying climatic and traffic conditions.

NCHRP 09-64 [Completed Publication decision pending]

Developing Laboratory Methods and Specifications to Test Tack Coat Materials

The objective of this research is to produce a specification with related laboratory test methods for tack coat materials that allows prediction of their performance over a range of environments, pavement types, and construction methods. The research shall consider test methods for tack coat characteristics related to bonding, tracking, and durability. The proposed specification shall exclude tests of tack coat materials bonded to asphalt or other substrates.

Submitted By:
Shelly Cowley
AEMA ITC Vice Chair