Mat Cooling Window — Night Paving (Urban)
Compaction time window for night paving (urban) from lift thickness, mix and air temperature (diffusion model).
Night work pairs cooler air with cooler bases — the base temperature steals heat from below at nearly the rate air takes it from above. Add the radiant loss to a clear night sky and night windows run 20–30% shorter than the same thermometer reading by day.
Formula
Note: Paving estimates only — the project mix design, agency specification and the plant's QC data govern. Temperature models are simplified; verify with an infrared gun and density gauge on the mat.
Compaction time window for night paving (urban) from lift thickness, mix and air temperature (diffusion model). A free asphalt paving temperature & logistics tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Mat Cooling Window — Night Paving (Urban)
Mat Cooling Window — Night Paving (Urban) computes the governing relationship τ ∝ h²/k_wind · t = τ·ln[(T_mix−T_env)/(T_stop−T_env)] — lumped diffusion model live as you type. Night work pairs cooler air with cooler bases — the base temperature steals heat from below at nearly the rate air takes it from above. Add the radiant loss to a clear night sky and night windows run 20–30% shorter than the same thermometer reading by day. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Mat Cooling Window — Night Paving (Urban)
- 1Enter your values — Lift thickness, Mix temp behind paver, Air temperature, Base temperature and more (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Compaction window, Initial cooling rate.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see τ ∝ h²/k_wind · t = τ·ln[(T_mix−T_env)/(T_stop−T_env)] — lumped diffusion model substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Mat Cooling Window — Night Paving (Urban)?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula τ ∝ h²/k_wind · t = τ·ln[(T_mix−T_env)/(T_stop−T_env)] — lumped diffusion model with authoritative sources cited on the page (MultiCool / Minnesota DOT mat-cooling research (Chadbourn et al.); NAPA — HMA paving handbook & best practices)
- ✓Night work pairs cooler air with cooler bases — the base temperature steals heat from below at nearly the rate air takes it from above.
- ✓SI ⇄ Imperial toggle converts your inputs in place, so you can work in the units your drawings use
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the mat cooling window — night paving (urban) use?+
It evaluates τ ∝ h²/k_wind · t = τ·ln[(T_mix−T_env)/(T_stop−T_env)] — lumped diffusion model, exactly as published. Sources: MultiCool / Minnesota DOT mat-cooling research (Chadbourn et al.); NAPA — HMA paving handbook & best practices. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
Night work pairs cooler air with cooler bases — the base temperature steals heat from below at nearly the rate air takes it from above. Paving estimates only — the project mix design, agency specification and the plant's QC data govern. Temperature models are simplified; verify with an infrared gun and density gauge on the mat.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Compaction time window for night paving (urban) from lift thickness, mix and air temperature (diffusion model). A free asphalt paving temperature & logistics tool. Add the radiant loss to a clear night sky and night windows run 20–30% shorter than the same thermometer reading by day. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Does it support both metric and imperial units?+
Yes — the SI ⇄ Imperial toggle converts the values already in the fields, preserving the physical quantity, so you can flip mid-calculation without re-entering anything.
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