Practice Test Geeks(PIC) Paving Inspector Certification Practice Test
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PIC Mix Design & Specification Compliance Flashcards

6 cards from real PIC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 PIC Mix Design & Specification Compliance flashcards as text

  1. Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is used in HMA mixes primarily to:

    Answer: Reduce material costs and conserve virgin aggregate and binder

    RAP recycles aged pavement material, reducing the need for virgin aggregate and binder, which lowers material costs and conserves resources.

  2. When a paving inspector reviews plant tickets, the binder content is reported as percent by:

    Answer: Total weight of the mix (percent by total mass)

    Asphalt binder content is reported as a percentage of the total weight of the mix (percent by total mass), not just the aggregate weight.

  3. Voids Filled with Asphalt (VFA) is calculated as:

    Answer: VMA minus air voids, divided by VMA, times 100

    VFA is the percentage of VMA filled with effective asphalt binder, calculated as (VMA − air voids) / VMA × 100.

  4. A polymer-modified asphalt binder (PMA) is typically specified on projects with:

    Answer: High traffic volumes, heavy loads, or extreme temperatures requiring enhanced performance

    PMA is used where enhanced rutting resistance, improved fatigue life, or better low-temperature cracking resistance is required, such as high-traffic or extreme climate locations.

  5. During HMA production, if the aggregate gradation consistently plots above the maximum density line (MDL) on a 0.45-power gradation chart, the mix is considered:

    Answer: Too fine, with an excess of fines relative to coarse aggregate

    Gradation plotting above the MDL on a 0.45-power chart indicates excess fine material in the aggregate blend, which can increase binder demand and reduce stability.

  6. The moisture susceptibility of an HMA mix is most commonly evaluated using which test?

    Answer: Lottman Test (AASHTO T 283 — Tensile Strength Ratio)

    AASHTO T 283 (commonly called the Lottman test) evaluates moisture susceptibility by comparing the tensile strength of conditioned versus unconditioned specimens as the Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR).