CAP Lab

In 1995, the Connecticut Advanced Pavement Laboratory (CAP Lab) was established by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (Department) and the University of Connecticut (UConn). The CAP Lab is an AASHTO:RE:Source Accredited Testing Facility that provides guidance on hot mix asphalt material design for the HMA industry, education and training services on HMA subjects for engineers, technicians and inspectors, technical assistance on paving mix acceptance and field construction, and research on HMA problems.

The CAP Lab conducts research on transportation construction materials with an emphasis on asphaltic materials. This research is conducted for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), regional transportation agencies and private industry. Researchers at the CAP Lab have contributed to the Long-Term Pavement Performance Project through the Federal Highway Administration, the Strategic Highway Research Program II, as well as Pavement Preservation initiatives. The CAP Lab fulfills an outreach function by conducting training courses for government employees, as well as technicians and consultants working with transportation construction materials. The Laboratory operates state-of-the-art equipment ranging from load frames performing low-temperature/fracture energy testing to the newly implemented Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester.