Project Description

At the National Center for Asphalt Technology’s accelerated pavement test track, performance is proven—not predicted. For DOTs seeking longer‑lasting pavements, NCAT test section E9B demonstrates the real‑world durability of FORTA‑FI® reinforcement fibers.

In 2012, the Alabama DOT sponsored section E9B, a Porous Friction Course reinforced with FORTA‑FI®. NCAT applies roughly 10 million ESALs every two years, simulating about a decade of traffic and creating one of the industry’s toughest testing environments.

The FORTA‑FI® section was evaluated alongside two comparable mixes, both of which cracked under the same accelerated loading. E9B performed so well that Alabama DOT and NCAT extended its testing. By 2021—after nine years and 30 million ESALs (about 30 years of traffic)— the section remained crack‑free.

The contrast is clear: while similar sections showed distress, FORTA‑FI® kept the pavement intact through heavy traffic volumes. For DOTs and pavement owners, that means longer service life, fewer early repairs, and stronger long‑term value.

FORTA-FI® helps asphalt pavements stand up to time and traffic— Reinforcement That Lasts™.