Personnel

Joe W. Button, P.E.

Joe W. Button has been with Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) since 1968.  As head of the Materials & Pavements Division of the TTI, Button oversees a $7,000,000 annual research program that covers seven areas of study: flexible pavements, rigid pavements, geotechnical, pavement construction, pavement management, pavement materials chemistry, recyclable materials.  The division consists of a staff of 25 research engineers, 6 research technicians, 4 clerical, and 60 graduate assistants.

He serves on the board of directors of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists and is secretary of the International Society of Asphalt Pavements.  He is chairman of TRB Committee on General Issues on Asphalt Pavements (AFK10) and the Mineral Aggregate Subcommittee of the TRB Committee on Characteristics of Non-Bituminous Components of Bituminous Paving Mixtures (A2D02).  He served as chairman of the expert task group for monitoring SHRP Project A-004, Asphalt Modification (1991-94) and ASTM Subcommittee on Analysis of Bituminous Mixtures of Committee D04.25 (1992-99).  He is a member of ASTM subcommittee on Aggregate Specifications.

Button has served as principal investigator on more than 70 asphalt pavement-related research projects totaling about $10,00,000, about one million dollars of which directly involved studies of modified asphalts or non-bituminous admixtures used to enhance asphalt pavement performance.  Recent related research topics include:  comprehensive study of Superpave aggregate specifications and recommended modifications, image analysis of fine and coarse aggregates, development of a HMA mix design procedure for TxDOT mixtures using the Superpave gyratory compactor.  Button led an NCHRP study of large stone asphalt mixtures and developed four new associated laboratory procedures.

Button has developed new test procedures, equipment, and analysis techniques, prepared specifications and materials acceptance criteria for highway agencies, and produced instructional videos.  He has extensive experience in planning, constructing, and evaluating experimental pavement sections.  He has taught short courses on pavement maintenance and asphalt technology.  He has authored or co-authored 85 published papers and about 100 research reports.  He has presented his work at 80 research conferences at state, national, and international levels (including 39 invited presentations).

Sponsors of his research include the NCHRP, SHRP, FHWA, DOE, NHTSA, ICAR, Texas DOT, and other state DOTs and universities as well as private industrial firms.

Button has gained valuable experience as a consultant to international companies in the areas of highway materials evaluation and market development.  He gained experience in leadership and project planning as a staff sergeant and an engineer officer during 23 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a Major in 1992.