AASHTO Releases 45th Edition of Materials Standards: What Geotechnical Engineers Need to Know

September 4, 2025 rockman Standards and Codes Comments Off on AASHTO Releases 45th Edition of Materials Standards: What Geotechnical Engineers Need to Know
AASHTO Materials Standards 45h Edition (2025)

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has released the 45th Edition of its Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing, along with the latest AASHTO Provisional Standards, which are commonly referred to as the Materials Standards. This comprehensive update includes 583 standards across three downloadable PDFs, reflecting the latest in harmonized practices, technological advancements, and clarity improvements for materials testing and design.

What’s New in the 2025 Release?

This edition introduces 20 new standards and 103 revised ones, with several notable changes:

  • Coal ash in concrete is better defined for improved consistency.
  • Blended cement alkali loading is more clearly specified.
  • Concrete specimen handling requirements are clarified for both making and storing.
  • Pipe standards have been refined.
  • Binder content in asphalt mixtures by nuclear method is now more clearly addressed.

New Provisional and Full Standards

  • 12 new provisional practices and tests related to pavement measurement and preservation.
  • 12 provisional standards upgraded to full standards.
  • 3 new quality assurance standards covering concrete, cold central plant recycling, and cold in-place recycling.
  • 2 new asphalt test methods, including the “poker chip” test and a balanced mix design for high RAP asphalt.

Why It Matters

For geotechnical and pavement engineers, these updates are more than just paperwork. They reflect the evolving demands of infrastructure design and maintenance, especially in areas like sustainability, durability, and performance-based specifications. Whether you’re working in a lab, on-site, or behind a desk, staying current with AASHTO standards ensures your work aligns with national best practices.

To order or access the full set, visit the AASHTO Store.

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American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTMThis post contains a list of new, revised and otherwise updated ASTM standards that pertain to the geotechnical engineering, materials testing and related fields. Standard C39/C39M for testing the compressive strength of concrete cyllinders was updated, as was C42/42m for obtaining and testing drilled cores and sawed beams of concrete.  The month of March also saw several geosynthetic standards being updated or added, including new standards for selecting the test method for geomembrane seams, and for testing the flexural rigidity of geogrids and other geosynthetics.  There are also a few updated standards related to asphalt mix design and sampling of asphalt.  Click through for updated ASTM Standards relating to geoprofessionals.

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AASHTO 2013 Standard Specs for Sampling and Testing

July 11, 2013 rockman Available Resources Comments Off on AASHTO 2013 Standard Specs for Sampling and Testing

AASHTO’s Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing, 33rd Edition and AASHTO Provisional Standards, 2013 Edition are now available for pre-order, delivery will start later this month. The 33rd Edition of […]

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380,000 Jobs Now in Jeopardy Because Congress Fails To Rescue America’s Transportation Account

June 30, 2008 rockman Press Releases Comments Off on 380,000 Jobs Now in Jeopardy Because Congress Fails To Rescue America’s Transportation Account

[Editor] From American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials, released June 26, 2008. [/Editor]

An estimated 380,000 thousand jobs and hundreds of construction projects are in jeopardy across the nation after Congress failed this week to fix a 3.3 billion dollar deficit in the Highway Trust Fund. The House and Senate dropped a provision from a three-month aviation tax extension bill that would have provided $8 billion to keep the nation’s transportation account solvent.

AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley expressed his strong disappointment saying, “If members of Congress believe that this failure to act has no consequences, they’re wrong.” Most states depend on federal funding to support transportation projects, but states won’t know if their federal highway funding will be cut by 34 percent until their fiscal year begins. For many states, the fiscal year starts on July 1.

This failure to act sets the stage for a last minute effort in late September to rescue America’s Transportation Account. If that does not occur, the federal-aid highway program will be reduced by $13.5 and $20 billion.

This loss would be another blow to the transportation industry, which is suffering from a stagnant economy, high fuel prices, inflationary pressures, and natural disasters.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the “Voice of Transportation” representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation.

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