Test Track Overview

Aerial view of NCAT's 1.7-mile oval Test Track used for asphalt pavement research.

NCAT Test Track

Located on a 309-acre site, NCAT's Test Track is a 1.7-mile oval where research is conducted on experimental asphalt pavements. The track consists of 46 test sections, each 200 feet long, funded through a cooperative effort between highway agencies and industry sponsors. Research experiments—whether on single test sections or groups—help agencies confidently implement new technologies, ultimately saving millions of dollars in transportation infrastructure.

Test Sections

Test sections fall into three main categories:

  • Structural Experiments: Sections with varying pavement thicknesses, closely resembling real-world roads. These sections contain embedded strain and pressure sensors to analyze pavement response to loads and validate mechanistic-empirical pavement design procedures.
  • Surface Mix Experiments: Built on a stable cross-section to limit distresses to the experimental surface layers, allowing researchers to focus on mix performance.
  • Pavement Preservation Studies: Sections used to evaluate long-term durability and effectiveness of different preservation techniques.

Performance is continuously monitored for rutting, fatigue cracking, roughness, texture, friction, and noise.

Advanced Monitoring & Instrumentation

To capture precise data on pavement performance, NCAT integrates cutting-edge technology:

  • Multidepth Temperature Probes: Installed in each test section and paired with an onsite automated weather station to characterize environmental conditions.
  • High-Speed Instrumentation Arrays: Select test sections include strain gauges and pressure plates at various depths to measure pavement response to traffic loads.
  • Wireless Mesh Network: Deployed along the entire track to enable fast and efficient data transfer in a safe testing environment.

Research Cycles

NCAT research cycles follow a structured three-phase process:

  • Phase 1: Construction – Test sections are built both on and off the track. Sponsors visit to ensure their research needs are met, and mixture samples from construction undergo laboratory analysis.
  • Phase 2: Traffic Loading – Over two years, each track section is subjected to 10 million equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) of heavy truck traffic, accelerating pavement wear and providing fast-track results.
  • Phase 3: Forensic Analysis – Damaged test sections undergo trenching and coring to determine distress causes. Sections are either retained for further study or replaced at the cycle’s end.

Performance is assessed weekly using an automated pavement distress data collection vehicle to measure roughness, rutting, cracking, and macrotexture. Additional tests evaluate surface friction, permeability, and structural integrity.

Beyond Pavement Testing

In addition to asphalt research, the Test Track supports various transportation projects, including:

  • Development of new heavy vehicle suspension systems
  • Truck platooning technology research
  • Evaluation of alternative fuels and propulsion systems
  • Testing improved vehicle electronics and safety systems

Accelerated Pavement Testing Worldwide

NCAT collaborates with other accelerated pavement testing facilities in the U.S. and internationally. Learn more about these research centers here.