Designation: D8 − 18b

Standard Terminology Relating to

Materials for Roads and Pavements1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope D5821 Test Method for Determining the Percentage of

1.1 This standard incorporates generic terms and generic Fractured Particles in Coarse Aggregate
definitions of terms specifically associated with road and D6995 Test Method for Determining Field VMA based on
paving materials. These generic terms and definitions are used the Maximum Specific Gravity of the Mix (Gmm)
within the standards developed by Committee D04 on Road
and Paving Materials. 3. Terminology
1.2 Only terms that appear in more than one standard under aggregate, n—a granular material used as a construction
the jurisdiction of Committee D04 will be included in Termi- material, meeting the requirements of road and paving
nology D8. applications.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor- DISCUSSION—Examples of aggregate include sand, gravel, shell, slag,
and crushed stone. See coarse aggregate and fine aggregate for more
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- information.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- air voids (Pa), n—the volume of air between the asphalt-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical coated aggregate particles throughout a compacted asphalt
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. mix, expressed as a percent of the total volume of the
sample.
2. Referenced Documents DISCUSSION—A variable previously used for this term was Va.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: anionic emulsified asphalt (anionic emulsion), n—a type of
D242/D242M Specification for Mineral Filler For Bitumi- emulsified asphalt such that a particular emulsifying agent
nous Paving Mixtures establishes a predominance of negative charges on the
D2026/D2026M Specification for Cutback Asphalt (Slow- discontinuous phase.
Curing Type)
D2027/D2027M Specification for Cutback Asphalt API gravity, n—a function of specific gravity represented by
(Medium-Curing Type) the equation in Test Method D3142/D3142M.
D2028/D2028M Specification for Cutback Asphalt (Rapid- DISCUSSION—A specific gravity scale developed by the American
Curing Type) Petroleum Institute (API) used to compare how heavy or light a
D3142/D3142M Test Method for Specific Gravity, API petroleum liquid is compared to water.
Gravity, or Density of Cutback Asphalts by Hydrometer asphalt, n—A dark brown to black cement-like residuum
Method obtained from the distillation of suitable crude oils.
D4124 Test Method for Separation of Asphalt into Four DISCUSSION—The distillation processes may involve one or more of
Fractions the following: atmospheric distillation, vacuum distillation, steam
D4552 Practice for Classifying Hot-Mix Recycling Agents distillation. Further processing of distillation residuum may be needed
D5505 Practice for Classifying Emulsified Recycling Agents to yield a material whose physical properties are suitable for commer-
cial applications. These additional processes can involve air oxidation,
solvent stripping or blending of residua of different stiffness character-
1
istics. In Europe asphalt is called bitumen.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.91 on asphalt binder, n—asphalt which may or may not contain an
Terminology.
Current edition approved Aug. 15, 2018. Published August 2018. Originally
asphalt modifier (see asphalt modifier).
approved in 1912. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D8 – 18a. DOI: DISCUSSION—this term is often used in the Performance Graded
10.1520/D0008-18B. Binder system.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM asphalt cement, n—See asphalt.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. asphalt concrete, n—See asphalt mix.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
 D8 − 18b
asphalt mix (asphalt mixture), n—a mixture of asphalt cleanability, n—the ability of a raised retroreflective marker to
binder, emulsified asphalt, or cutback asphalt and aggre- keep its optical surfaces clean under traffic and environmen-
gates. The mixture may also include other materials. tal conditions.
asphalt pavement, n—a structure consisting of one or more clinker, n—generally a fused or partly fused by-product of the
prepared layers of asphalt mix atop one or more supporting combustion of coal, but also including lava and portland-
layers of unbound, modified, or treated subgrade, subbase or cement clinker, and partly vitrified slag and brick.
base materials.
coal tar, n—a dark brown to black cementitious material
asphalt-rubber, n—a blend of asphalt cement, reclaimed tire produced by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal.
rubber, and certain additives in which the rubber component
is at least 15 % by weight of the total blend and has reacted coarse aggregate, n—(1) aggregate predominantly retained on
in the hot asphalt cement sufficiently to cause swelling of the the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve: or (2) the portion of aggregate
rubber particles. retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve.
DISCUSSION—The definitions are alternatives to be applied under
asphaltenes, n—insoluble materials that are precipitated by differing circumstances. Definition (1) is applied to an entire aggregate
use of selected solvents, such as n-heptane. either in a natural condition or after processing. Definition (2) is applied
DISCUSSION—The asphaltene fraction should be identified by the to a portion of an aggregate. Requirements for properties and grading
solvent and solvent-asphalt ratio used. should be stated in the specification. Some specifying agencies use
alternative sieve sizes to define coarse aggregate, such as the No. 8 and
bank gravel, n—gravel found in natural deposits, usually more 3⁄8 in.

or less intermixed with fine material, such as sand or clay, or

combinations thereof; gravelly clay, gravelly sand, clayey coke-oven tar, n—coal tar produced in by-product coke ovens
gravel, and sandy gravel indicate the varying proportions of in the manufacture of coke from bituminous coal.
the materials in the mixture. constant mass, n—the state of a specimen in which the
bitumen, n—dark brown to black cement-like residuum ob- difference in mass between two consecutive weighings taken
tained from the distillation of suitable crude oils. at a specified time interval and under specified testing
DISCUSSION—The distillation processes may involve one or more of conditions is considered to be negligible.
the following: atmospheric distillation, vacuum distillation, steam DISCUSSION—If the time interval and negligible difference in mass are
distillation. Further processing of distillation residuum may be needed not specified in a standard, a specimen can typically be assumed to be
to yield a material whose physical properties are suitable for commer- at constant mass when the difference in mass between two consecutive
cial applications. These additional processes can involve air oxidation, weighings taken 1 h apart is less than 0.1 % of the last weighing.
solvent stripping or blending of residua of different stiffness character-
istics. In North America bitumen is called asphalt. crack filler, n—bituminous material used to fill and seal cracks
in existing pavements.
bituminous, adj—containing or treated with bitumen (also
bituminized). crusher-run, n—the total unscreened product of a stone
DISCUSSION—Examples: bituminous concrete, bituminized felts and crusher.
fabrics, bituminous pavement.
cutback asphalt, n—asphalt binder which has been blended
blast-furnace slag, n—the nonmetallic product, consisting with hydrocarbon distillates.
essentially of silicates and alumino-silicates of calcium and DISCUSSION—Slow-curing materials may be made and are often
other bases, that is developed in a molten condition simul- referred to as road oils. See Specifications D2026/D2026M, D2027/
taneously with iron in a blast furnace. D2027M, and D2028/D2028M.
DISCUSSION—Depending on the way of cooling of the liquid slag, it
can be distinguished between crystalline air-cooled blast furnace dense-graded aggregate, n—an aggregate that is graded from
(ACBF) slag and glassy granulated blast furnace (GBF) slag. the maximum size down to and including filler, with the
objective of targeting a lower void content in the compacted
bond breaker, n—a material applied between two adjoining
aggregate than in an open-graded aggregate.
materials to prevent adhesion between them.
bulk density, n—the ratio of the mass of a material to the dust binder, n—a light application of bituminous material for
volume it occupies. the express purpose of laying and bonding loose dust.
DISCUSSION—Another common phrase for this term is unit weight. emulsified asphalt (bituminous emulsion), n—(1) a suspen-
bulk specific gravity, n—the ratio of the mass of a given sion of minute globules of asphalt material in water or in an
volume of material, including the impermeable and perme- aqueous solution,
able voids, to the mass of an equal volume of water at a (2) a suspension of minute globules of water or of an
specified temperature. aqueous solution in a liquid asphalt material.
DISCUSSION—This term is also sometimes referred to as relative
density. fine aggregate, n—(1) aggregate predominately passing the
4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve or (2) the portion of aggregate
cationic emulsified asphalt (cationic emulsion), n—a type of passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve.
emulsified asphalt such that a particular emulsifying agent DISCUSSION—The definitions are alternatives to be applied under
establishes a predominance of positive charges on the differing circumstances. Definition (1) is applied to an entire aggregate
discontinuous phase. either in a natural condition or after processing. Definition (2) is applied

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 D8 − 18b
to a portion of an aggregate. Requirements for properties and grading asphalt, bituminous emulsion, or tar at the job-site by means
should be stated in the specifications. Some specifying agencies use of travel plants, motor graders, drags, or special road-mixing
alternative sieve sizes to define fine aggregate, such as the 2.36-mm equipment. Open or dense-graded aggregates, sand, and
(No. 8) and 9.50-mm (3⁄8-in.) sieve.
sandy soil may be used.
fog seal, n—a light application of asphalt material to an
mulch treatment, n—a spray application of bituminous mate-
existing pavement as a seal to inhibit raveling, or to seal the
rial used to temporarily stabilize a recently seeded area. The
surface, or both.
DISCUSSION—Emulsified asphalts are typically used and are applied
bituminous material can be applied to the soil or to straw or
by a spraying technique. hay mulch as a tie-down, also.
fractured face, n—an angular, rough, or broken surface of an native asphalt, n—asphalt occurring as such in nature.
aggregate particle created by crushing, by other artificial nominal maximum size (of aggregate), n—in specifications
means, or by nature. for, or descriptions of aggregate, the smallest sieve opening
DISCUSSION—See Test Method D5821 for more information.
through which the entire amount of the aggregate is permit-
“free-carbon” in tars, n—the hydrocarbon fraction that is ted to pass.
precipitated from a tar by dilution with carbon disulfide or DISCUSSION—Specifications on aggregates usually stipulate a sieve
benzene. opening through which all of the aggregate may, but need not, pass so
that a stated maximum proportion of the aggregate may be retained on
gas-house coal tar, n—coal tar produced in gas-house retorts that sieve. A sieve opening so designated is the nominal maximum size.
in the manufacture of illuminating gas from bituminous coal.
normal temperature, n—as applied to laboratory observations
lab mixed lab compacted (LMLC) asphalt mixture of the physical characteristics of bituminous materials, 25 °C
specimen, n—a specimen made with an asphalt mixture that (77 °F).
is prepared in the laboratory by weighing and blending each
constituent, and then the blended mixture is compacted using oil-gas tars, n—tars produced by cracking oil vapors at high
a laboratory compaction apparatus. temperatures in the manufacture of oil gas.
DISCUSSION—LMLC specimens are typically produced during the penetration, n—the consistency of a bituminous material
asphalt mixture design phase. See also plant mixed laboratory com- expressed as the distance in tenths of a millimetre (0.1 mm)
pacted (PMLC) asphalt mixture and reheated plant mixed lab com-
pacted (RPMLC) asphalt mixture.
that a standard needle penetrates vertically a sample of the
material under specified conditions of loading, time, and
macadam, dry-bound and water bound, n—a pavement temperature.
layer containing essentially one-size coarse aggregate
choked in place with an application of screenings or sand; penetration macadam, n—a pavement layer containing essen-
water is applied to the choke material for water-bound tially one-size coarse aggregate, penetrated in place by a
macadam. Multiple layers must be used. heavy application of bituminous material, followed by an
application of a smaller size coarse aggregate, and com-
maintenance mix, n—a mixture of bituminous material and pacted. Multiple layers containing still smaller coarse aggre-
mineral aggregate applied at ambient temperature for use in gate may be used.
patching holes, depressions, and distress areas in existing
pavements using appropriate hand or mechanical methods in pitches, n—black or dark-brown solid cementitious materials
placing and compacting the mix. These mixes may be which gradually liquefy when heated and which are obtained
designed for immediate use or for use out of a stockpile at a as residua in the partial evaporation or fractional distillation
later time without further processing. of tar.

maltenes, n—a red-brown to black heavy oil material remain- plant mix, cold-laid, n—a mixture of cut-back asphalt, bitu-
ing after precipitation of asphaltenes from asphalt binder minous emulsion, or tar and mineral aggregate prepared in a
with selected solvents. central bituminous mixing plant and spread and compacted
at the job-site when the mixture is at or near ambient
maximum size (of aggregate), n—in specifications for, or temperature.
descriptions of aggregate, the smallest sieve opening through
which the entire amount of aggregate is required to pass. plant mix, hot-laid bituminous emulsion mixtures, n—a
mixture of emulsion and heated mineral aggregate usually
mesh, n—the square opening of a sieve. prepared in a conventional asphalt plant or drum mixer and
mineral filler, n—finely divided mineral matter such as rock spread and compacted at the job site at a temperature above
dust, slag dust, hydrated lime, hydraulic cement, fly ash, ambient.
loess, or other material predominantly passing the 75-µm plant mixed lab compacted (PMLC) asphalt mixture,
(No. 200) sieve. n—asphalt mixture samples that are composed of an asphalt
DISCUSSION—See Specification D242/D242M for a description of mixture that is manufactured in a production plant and
suitable materials to be used as mineral filler.
sampled prior to compaction, and then the mixture is
mixed-in-place (road mix), n—a bituminous surface or base immediately compacted using a laboratory compaction ap-
course produced by mixing mineral aggregate and cut-back paratus.

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 D8 − 18b
DISCUSSION—PMLC specimens are often used for quality control smallest screen used with the crushing operation and most of
testing. This term is limited to specimens that have not been permitted which passed the 2.36-mm (No. 8) sieve.
to cool substantially, but PMLC samples may be placed in a laboratory
oven to equilibrate the mixture to the compaction temperature before sieve, n—in laboratory work, an apparatus in which the
molding. See also lab mixed lab compacted (LMLC) asphalt mixture apertures are square for separating sizes of material.
specimen and reheated plant mixed lab compacted (RPMLC) asphalt
mixture. slurry seal, n—an application of a fluid mixture of bituminous
emulsion, fine aggregate, mineral filler, and water to an
prime coat, n—an application of a low-viscosity bituminous
existing pavement. Single or multiple applications may be
material to an absorptive surface, designed to penetrate,
used.
bond, and stabilize this existing surface and to promote
adhesion between it and the construction course that follows. soil aggregate, n—natural or prepared mixtures consisting
predominantly of stone, gravel, or sand which contain a
reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), n—asphalt pavement or
significant amount of minus 75-µm (No. 200) silt-clay
paving mixture removed from its original location for use in
material.
recycled asphalt paving mixture.
steel slag, n—the nonmetallic product consisting essentially of
recycled asphalt paving mixture, n—a mixture of reclaimed
calcium silicates and ferrites combined with fused oxides of
asphalt pavement with the inclusion, if required, of asphalt
iron, aluminum, manganese, calcium and magnesium, that is
cement, emulsified asphalt, cut-back asphalt, recycling
developed simultaneously with steel in basic oxygen,
agent, mineral aggregate, and mineral filler.
electric, or open hearth furnaces.
recycling agent (RA), n—a blend of hydrocarbons with or
without minor amounts of other materials that is used to alter Relating Specifically to Tests
or improve the properties of the aged asphalt in a recycled stone chips, n—small angular fragments of stone containing no
asphalt paving mixture. dust.
refined tar, n—tar freed from water by evaporation or distil- straight-run pitch, n—a pitch run to the consistency desired in
lation which is continued until the residue is of desired the initial process of distillation and without subsequent
consistency; or a product produced by fluxing tar residuum fluxing.
with tar distillate.
surface treatment, n—an application of bituminous material
reheated plant mixed lab compacted (RPMLC) asphalt followed by a layer of mineral aggregate. Multiple applica-
mixture, n—asphalt mixture samples that are composed of tions of bituminous material and mineral aggregate may be
an asphalt mixture that is manufactured in a production plant used.
and sampled prior to compaction, and then the mixture is
allowed to cool to room temperature, reheated in a labora- tack coat (bond coat), n—an application of bituminous
tory oven, and compacted using a laboratory compaction material to an existing relatively nonabsorptive surface to
apparatus. provide a thorough bond between old and new surfacing.
DISCUSSION—RPMLC specimens are often used for quality accep-
tance and verification testing. The reheating is as brief as possible to tar, n—brown or black bituminous material, liquid or semisolid
obtain uniform temperature while avoiding artificial aging of the in consistency, in which the predominating constituents are
specimens. Asphalt mixture conditioning, reheat temperature, and bitumens obtained as condensates in the destructive distilla-
reheat time should be defined in the applicable specification. See also tion of coal, petroleum, oil-shale, wood, or other organic
lab mixed lab compacted (LMLC) asphalt mixture specimen and plant materials, and which yields substantial quantities of pitch
mixed laboratory compacted (PMLC) asphalt mixture. when distilled.
rock asphalt—see asphalt rock. tar concrete, cold-laid, n—a plant mix containing a medium-
rubble, n—rough stones of irregular shapes and sizes, broken viscosity grade of tar and a graded mineral aggregate,
from larger masses either naturally or artificially, as by designed to be laid either shortly after mixing or when the
geological action, in quarrying, or in stone cutting or mixture is at or near ambient temperature.
blasting.
tar concrete, hot laid, n—a plant mix containing a high-
saturates, n—material that, on percolation in a n-heptane
viscosity grade of tar and a densely graded mineral aggregate
eluant, is not adsorbed under the specified test conditions.
designed to be laid at or near the elevated temperature of
DISCUSSION—See Test Method D4124 and Practices D4552 and
D5505. mixing.

screen, n—in laboratory work an apparatus, in which the voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), n—volume of intergranu-
apertures are circular, for separating sizes of material. lar void space between the aggregate particles of a com-
pacted paving mixture.
screenings, n—a residual product resulting from the artificial DISCUSSION—VMA is a theoretical value that includes air voids and
crushing of rock, boulders, cobble, gravel, blast-furnace slag the volume of asphalt not absorbed into the aggregate. See Test Method
or hydraulic cement concrete, all of which passed the D6995 for more information.

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 D8 − 18b
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