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4,786,407 ESALs as of 2300 hours on August 28, 2010 (48% of the 10,000,000 ESAL goal !). Rut depths measured on 8/30/10 averaged 4.7 mm, while roughness averaged 83.7 inches per mile.

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NCAT_Pavement_Test_Track 1600_Lee_Road_151    Opelika,_AL_36804_USA 334.844.7304            

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GOD BLESS AMERICA !

This project is as good an example of "partnering" as can be found.   The support of the Alabama DOT and individual section sponsors provided the financial basis that made everything possible, but many other groups were also involved in some way.  Links to each pavement research sponsor are provided below.

Section Sponsors

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) funded the original construction of the facility in 2000 to provide the overall research infrastructure for future testing cycles.  In the 2009 research cycle, ALDOT is funding traffic continuation on structural sections from previous research cycles that may be perpetual, as well as supporting the multi-section Group Experiment.  They have also been supportive of all the other sponsors by providing equipment and personnel essential for monthly field performance testing on all 46 test sections.
The Florida Department of Transportation provided funding to sponsor 2 structural sections.  Both sections are paved with mix that was proven to be susceptible to surface cracking in the 2006 research cycle, and both sections are built with the same porous friction course (PFC) surface; however, one was paved with a spray paver and the other with conventional tack paving.  They are also supporting the multi-section Group Experiment.
The Georgia Department of Transportation provided funding to sponsor 1 mix performance section.  Their objective is to assess the performance of an SMA surface that was produced using aggregates that do not meet their stringent flat and elongated quality requirement.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation provided funding to sponsor 2 mix performance sections in which they are studying the performance of a gravel PFC surface and a high recycled content dense gravel mix.   The gravel PFC surface was placed back in 2006 and will be evaluated for both functionality and durability.
The Missouri Department of Transportation provided funding for 2 mix performance sections.  Their objective is to compare the performance of a ground tire rubber (GTR) modified PG76-22 mix to an SBS modified PG76-22 mix, both containing exactly the same aggregate blend and volumetric design.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation provided funding to sponsor the multi-section Group Experiment.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation provided funding to sponsor 2 structural sections in which they are studying perpetual pavement design methodology.  Both were initially placed back in 2006, with rehabilitation of the thinner section required in 2009.  Geotextile fabrics were included in order to assess their effect on cracking recurrence.  Assitionally, they provided funding for the multi-section Group Experiment.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation provided funding to sponsor the multi-section Group Experiment.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation provided funding to sponsor the multi-section Group Experiment.
The Federal Highway Administration provided funding to support the multi-section Group Experiment, traffic continuation on a dual layer PFC placed in 2006, and traffic continuation on high recycled content mixes placed in 2006.  Their participation is important to the overall project because they continue to allow us to utilize the 3 surviving Westrack trailer trains to reduce our trucking costs.
Cargill provided funding for a surface performance test section treated with materials that are intended to reduce the need for de-icing chemicals.
Kraton Polymers provided funding for a thinner structrual test section built with highly polymer modified asphalt whose performance can be compared to thicker sections in the mutli-section Group Experiment.
OldCastle Materials Group provided funding for the overall laboratory testing program as a means to support traffic continuation on the high recycled content sections placed in 2006.
Shell provided funding for 2 structural sections of different thicknesses produced with their Thiopave warm mix sulfur process as a replacement for a portion of the liquid asphalt binder.
Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) provided funding for 1 structural section that was produced with TLA pellets as a replacement for a portion of the liquid asphalt binder.

Material Suppliers

Boral Material Technologies supplied the flyash that was used in the SMA and OGFC sections.
Select unmodified and SBS-modified asphalt binders were purchased from Ergon.
Hi-Tech Asphalt Solutions donated the cellulose fiber used to prevent draindown in OGFC and SMA mixes.
OldCastle Materials Group donated aggregates that were utilized to produce mix for many test sections.
Vulcan Materials Company donated aggregates that were utilized to produce mix for many test sections.

Equipment Suppliers

Equipment supplied by Astec was used to produce every mix that was placed on the track.
Ignition Furnaces manufactured by Barnstead | Thermolyne were used to extract aggregate samples and monitor asphalt contents during construction.
Instrumentation components were purchased from Campbell Scientific, who also provided a great deal of technical support before, during, and after construction.
CPN International donated the use of their rotary loaded wheel tester for post construction performance testing of experimental mixes.
Roadtec provided the lone paver used to place experimental mixes, a material transfer device that was used to place every section, and a milling machine that was used to remove old mixes.
Transtech Systems donated the use of a PQI Model 301 impedance density gauge that was used in conjunction with a nuclear density gauge to monitor construction quality then document densification under traffic.

Trucking Operations

Centramatic donated and supports mechanical wheel balancers on the entire Track fleet.  Additiionally, they provide useful support to the trucking operation in many other ways.
Dana / Eaton donated research axles for the Track fleet as part of a comprehensive endurance test.
FHWA made the trailers from the Nevada Automotive Test Center available for use at NCAT.
Wilson Oil supplies the fuel for the onsite fuel tank.

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Last updated: January 15, 2010.