What is the primary concern when cooling the pavement during coring?

The primary concern when cooling the pavement during coring is the quality of the sample. Proper cooling is critical because if the pavement remains too hot during the coring process, it can affect the integrity of the asphalt sample. Excessive heat can lead to alterations in the material properties, such as compaction levels or binder characteristics, ultimately compromising the representativeness of the core. Ensuring optimal cooling allows for a more accurate assessment of the asphalt mix and its performance characteristics. Properly cooled samples will reflect the true state of the pavement as it was originally laid, which is essential for effective analysis and evaluation.

While aspects like the time of operation, traffic conditions, and environmental impact are important considerations in the broader context of pavement coring and construction practices, the immediate priority during the cooling phase is to safeguard the quality of the sample being extracted.