Rutgers Asphal Pavement Laboratory (RAPL)

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The Rutgers Asphalt Pavement Laboratory (RAPL) plays an integral part in CAIT’s research activities and is housed in CAIT's facilities at Rutgers University. By housing the latest testing equipment and machinery, the RAPL is a dynamic force in the field of asphalt research. The laboratory is a partnership between Rutgers Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the NJDOT. Most of the funding for the creation of the laboratory has come from the NJDOT and Rutgers University in support of CAIT and expansion of its research program.

The RAPL includes Superpave Level I, II, and III equipment (except for binder testing which is done at NJDOT), and other equipment for the analysis of bituminous mixtures and aggregate properties. Some of the prominent equipment in the laboratory includes the Superpave Shear Tester (SST), Indirect Tensile Tester (IDT), Gyratory Compactor, and the Georgia Loaded Wheel Tester. This research initiative was established as part of the current trend to improve the nation's highway infrastructure by establishing methodologies that increase the life and performance of pavements.

Impact:

• Assist the NJDOT and the asphalt industry in the development of improved pavements and other related infrastructure systems
• Continue its goal of investigating performance models to predict rutting, fatigue cracking, and other distresses in asphalt pavement
• Establish a regional Superpave mixture laboratory using university, agency, and industry resources
• Development of performance criteria for material performance in high volume environment
• Collaborate with state agencies in the implementation of mechanistic pavement design methods and procedure
• Organization of seminars and workshops for educations of pavement professionals