The Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) is seeking a postdoctoral associate to develop an approach to assess moisture damage of asphalt mixture as part of a performance-related specification (PRS).  Moisture damage is a critical concern for asphalt material engineers - a recent survey shows 80% of State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) conduct some kind of testing related to moisture damage resistance.  However, a performance prediction model to include moisture damage in a PRS framework is not readily available.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been advancing a PRS framework using fundamental engineering properties to predict long-term pavement life and assign pay factors by comparing as-designed to as-built materials.  The framework currently addresses rutting, fatigue cracking, and low temperature cracking, but is lacking with respect to moisture damage.  Postdoctoral associates should have extensive experience with respect to moisture damage conditioning and characterization.  The approach should be amenable to testing in both mixture design and production phases of an asphalt pavement construction project.  A PRS has potential to encourage innovation, share risk, and raise the bar on performance of asphalt mixtures.

References: 

McCarthy, L.M., Callans, J., Quigley, R., and Scott, S.V. "Performance Specifications for Asphalt Mixtures: A Synthesis of Highway Practice," NCHRP Synthesis 492, National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

More information can be found in: http://nrc58.nas.edu/RAPLab10/Opportunity/Opportunity.aspx?LabCode=27&ROPCD=270100&RONum=C0206

Additionally, more information on the program can be found in the following link: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/