Road Research

MnROAD | NRRA | Structure & Teams

Flexible Team

The flexible team is comprised of technical experts in the area of new and rehabilitation of asphalt roadways. Activities include prioritization of short and long term research, development of long term research test sections at MnROAD and providing input to the technology transfer team on what should be marketed.

Meeting minutes

Flexible Team meeting minutes are accessible on the Minnesota online asset management platform eDOCs. Minutes from previous meetings back to 2016 are available upon request.

NRRA Flexible Team Efforts

Construction & structural design

• Materials-Based Methods to Improve Rumble Strip Durability (2023) (co-sponsored with PM Team)
• Reclamation and Recycling Techniques to Achieve Perpetual Pavements Characteristics (2021) co-sponsored with Geotech, ICT, and PM teams
• Perpetual Pavements in Wet-Freeze Climates (2021)
• Asphalt Real Time Smoothness (ARTS) for Asphalt Paving (2020), co-sponsored with the Intelligent Construction Technologies Team - Complete
• Understanding and Improving Pavement Milling Operations (2020), co-sponsored with the Intelligent Construction Technologies Team
• Longitudinal Joint Construction Performance Synthesis (2017) - Complete
• Tack Coats Synthesis (2017) - Complete

Performance testing & balanced mix design

• Validation of Loose Mix Aging Procedures for Cracking Resistance Evaluation in Balanced Mix Design (Phase IIA) (2024)
• Standardization of SIP Calculation for Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test (2023)
• Field Validation of Using Warm Mix Asphalt at Reduced Production Temperatures for Balanced Mix Design (2023)
• Validation of Loose Mix Aging Procedures for Cracking Resistance Evaluation in Balanced Mix Design (Phase I) (2021) - Complete
• Impact of Polymer Modification on IDEAL-CT and I-FIT for Balanced Mix Design (2020)
• Novel Methods for Adding Rejuvenators in Asphalt Mixtures with High Recycled Binder Ratios (2020) - Complete
• An Innovative Practical Approach to Assessing Bitumen Compatibility as a Means of Material Specification (2019)

Reflective cracking

• Continued Monitoring of Original I-94 Westbound Asphalt Overlay Sections and Use of Cracking and Performance Data MRCC Project (2023) (co-sponsored with Rigid Team)
• MnROAD Reflective Cracking Challenge (2021)
• Developing Best Practices for Rehabilitation of Concrete with Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Overlays related to Density and Reflective Cracking (2017)

Sustainability & recycling

• Recycled Binder Availability (2021)
• Novel Methods for Adding Rejuvenators in Asphalt Mixtures with High Recycled Binder Ratios (2020) - Complete
• An Innovative Practical Approach to Assessing Bitumen Compatibility as a Means of Material Specification (2019)
• Mix Rejuvenator Test Sections (Phase III) (2023)
• Mix Rejuvenator Test Sections (Phase II) (2019)
• Mix Rejuvenator Synthesis (Phase 1) (2019) - Complete
• Cold Asphalt Recycling Technologies using Rejuvenating Asphalt Emulsion: Impact, Implementation, Specification (2019)
• Cold Central Plant Recycling (CCPR) (2017) - Complete