ASTM D7063/D7063M-18 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM D7063/D7063M-18 — Standard Test Method for Effective Porosity and Effective Air Voids of Compacted Asphalt (Bituminous) Mixture Samples. This method uses a vacuum-sealing procedure and water-displacement measurements to determine the fraction of voids in a compacted sample that are accessible to water (effective porosity or effective air voids), providing an indication of interconnectivity of the sample pore network and a correlate for permeability.

Abstract

This test method covers determination of effective porosity (effective percent porosity) or effective air voids of compacted mixtures by vacuum sealing a sample in a plastic bag, obtaining sealed-sample density by water displacement (SG1), then opening the bag while the sample remains under water so evacuated air voids fill with water and an apparent maximum density (SG2) can be calculated. The difference between SG2 and SG1 yields the water-accessible void fraction; results can be used to evaluate void interconnectivity and to correlate with permeability. The method applies to compacted field and laboratory asphalt mixture samples and other compacted specimens with well-defined geometries.

General information

• Status: Superseded by a later edition (ASTM D7063/D7063M-25 published 2025).
• Publication date: August 15, 2018 (designation D7063/D7063M-18).
• Publisher: ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials).
• ICS / categories: Road construction materials; vehicle–pavement systems (ICS 93.080.20).
• Edition / version: D7063/D7063M‑18 (2018 edition).
• Number of pages: 4 pages (typical PDF/text length for the 2018 edition).

Scope

The standard describes a vacuum-sealing, water-displacement test for quantifying the portion of total voids that are connected to the exterior and accessible to water. It is intended for compacted laboratory or field asphalt mixture specimens and other geometrically regular compacted samples (for example concrete cylinders or cored rock), and for use as an indicator of void interconnectivity and a proxy for permeability. The standard notes that a multi-laboratory precision and bias statement had not been developed for the 2018 edition and therefore the method should not be used alone for contractual acceptance decisions.

Key topics and requirements

• Vacuum sealing of the specimen inside a plastic bag prior to initial water-displacement density measurement (sealed density SG1).
• Opening the bag while the specimen remains under water so water fills water-accessible air voids and an apparent maximum density (SG2) is measured.
• Calculation of effective porosity / effective percent air voids from the difference between SG2 and SG1.
• Applicability to laboratory and field compacted asphalt samples and other compacted specimens with defined geometry; suitable for mixes with interconnected voids where traditional SSD methods may be unreliable.
• Statement that precision/bias data were not established (2018 edition), so results should be used for evaluation and research rather than direct contractual acceptance.

Typical use and users

Used by materials and quality-control laboratories, transportation agencies (state DOTs), pavement research organizations, contractors, and universities to assess void interconnectivity and to estimate permeability-related behavior of compacted asphalt mixtures. It is frequently applied in research, performance evaluation, and troubleshooting of coarse-graded or open-graded mixes where conventional bulk-specific-gravity methods may under- or over-estimate accessible void content.

Related standards

Commonly used alongside or in the same test family as ASTM standards that determine specific gravity, density, and air voids, for example: ASTM D2726 (Bulk Specific Gravity and Density of Non-Absorptive Compacted Asphalt Mixtures), ASTM D6752/D6752M (Bulk Specific Gravity and Density using automatic vacuum sealing), and ASTM D3203 (Percent Air Voids in Compacted Asphalt Mixtures). These standards address complementary measurements (bulk specific gravity, percent air voids, vacuum sealing procedures) and are maintained by the same ASTM committee (D04 subcommittees).

Keywords

effective porosity, effective air voids, vacuum sealing, bulk specific gravity, asphalt mixtures, compacted samples, permeability, void interconnectivity, ASTM D7063.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM D7063/D7063M-18 is a test method that determines the fraction of air voids in a compacted specimen that are accessible to water (effective porosity or effective air voids) using a vacuum-sealing and water-displacement technique.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the procedure for vacuum-sealing a compacted specimen, measuring sealed-sample density (SG1), opening the seal under water to allow water into accessible voids, measuring the saturated density (SG2), and calculating the effective porosity or effective air voids from the density difference. The method applies to compacted asphalt mixture samples and other compacted specimens with well-defined geometry.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Materials laboratories, DOT and agency testing groups, pavement researchers, contractors’ QC labs, and university researchers—especially when evaluating permeability, coarse-graded mixes, open-graded mixes, or when traditional SSD/bulk-specific-gravity methods are unreliable.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The D7063/D7063M-18 edition was published in August 2018; it has since been superseded by a later ASTM edition (designation D7063/D7063M-25 published in 2025). Users who need the current technical requirements should consult the 2025 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes—D7063 is part of the suite of ASTM pavement/materials D04 standards addressing specific gravity, density, and air-void measurements (for example D2726, D6752 and D3203 are commonly referenced complementary methods). These documents are managed by ASTM subcommittee D04.21.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: effective porosity; effective air voids; vacuum sealing; bulk specific gravity; compacted asphalt mixtures; permeability; void interconnectivity; ASTM D7063.