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Asphalt concrete mix design
Francisco Aguiga
Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Program
Texas A&M University Kingsville
CEEN 3144 Construction Materials
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Hot-mix asphalt
Asphalt cement + aggregates
mixed at high temperature placed
and compacted while still hot
93% of the US roads (2 M miles)
Asphalt concrete
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Provide
Stability avoid permanent deformation
under traffic loads
Fatigue resistance avoid fatigue cracking
Resistance to thermal cracking
Resistance to hardening
Resistance to moisture damage
Provide skid resistance
Provide workability
Objectives of asphalt concrete
mix design
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Figure 1
Stable structure with
considerable internal
friction
High resistance to
deformation under load
Figure 2
Less stable structure with
less internal friction
Less resistance to
deformation under load
Fundamentals of mix design
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Figure 3
Aggregate skeleton with
asphalt binder
Some air
Aggregate internal friction
available + asphalt binding
Too little air brittle pavement
Figure 4
No air rutting, bleeding
Too much asphalt
Aggregate floats on asphalt
Easily deforms under load
since there is no internal
friction
Fundamentals of mix design
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1. Select the grading max aggregate size
2. Select the aggregate to use
3. Select the proportion of each aggregate to
use
4. Find specific gravity of aggregate
combination and asphalt cement
5. Make trial specimens
6. Find specific gravity of each specimen
7. Conduct stability tests
8. Compute percentage of voids, VMA, and
percent voids filled with asphalt
9. Select optimum asphalt content
Asphalt concrete mix design
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1. Select the grading
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Aggregates almost always selected by
the contractor
Select most economical materials
Have as few aggregate piles as possible
(usually 2 to 5)
$ transportation > $ aggregate
Uncrushed river gravel can be
inexpensive, but yield a poor
performance
Select crushed stone whenever possible
2. Select the aggregate to use
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In the lab trial and error
Mathematically
aA + bB = T
When b is zero
A = T/a
3. Proportioning of aggregates
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Asphalt specific gravity
Usually provided by manufacturer
Aggregate specific gravity
Obtained in the laboratory
Average specific gravity
g
a
= Specific gravity of combined aggregate
W
1
, W
2
, W
3
= Respective percents by weight of
aggregate 1, 2, and 3
g
1
, g
2
, g
3
= respective specific gravities of
aggregate 1, 2, and 3
4. Specific gravities
3
3
2
2
1
1
100
g
W
g
W
g
W
g
a
+ +
=
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4. Specific gravities
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4. Specific gravities
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4. Specific gravities
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4. Specific gravities
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4. Specific gravities
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4. Specific gravities
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4. Specific gravities
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Objective
Optimize the asphalt content to obtain the highest stability
value (load) and highest density
Try asphalt contents in increments of 0.5 %
Preparation of mix
Optimize the asphalt content to obtain the highest stability
value (load) and highest density Heat aggregates (350 to
375 F)
Heat asphalt (250 to 280 F) stir constantly
Discard hot asphalt sitting longer than 1 hour
Weight size fractions and add aggregate, mix
Temperature of mix should not be less than 225 F before
compaction
No reheating of mix
5. Preparation of compacted
specimens Marshall Method
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Compaction of specimens
Clean and heat compaction mold and hammer to
200 to 300 F in a bath of boiling water
Place mold on base and insert paper filter, place
1200 g of hot batch mix and spade the mixture 15
times on perimeter and 10 times in the middle
Remove collar and smooth surface
Replace collar and apply 50 blows
Reverse specimen and apply another 50 blows
Release specimen from mold and allow to cool at
room temperature over night
5. Preparation of compacted
specimens
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6. Specific gravity of compacted
specimens
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6. Specific gravity of compacted
specimens
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6. Specific gravity of compacted
specimens
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Marshall flow test
Weigh and measure specimens
Heat specimen to 140 F in a water bath for 30 to 40 min
Clean and lubricate guide rods
Remove specimen from bath and place in lower segment of
head, place top segment of head
Place and zero flow meter
Load specimen at 50.8 mm (2 in.) per minute until the load
decreases (max reached)
Record the flow in twenty-five hundredths of a millimeter
(hundredths of an inch)
Total elapsed time not to exceed 30 sec
7. Stability test of compacted
specimens
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8. Compute percentage of voids
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8. Compute percentage of voids
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9. Select optimum asphalt
content
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9. Select optimum asphalt
content
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9. Select optimum asphalt
content
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9. Select optimum asphalt
content
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9. Select optimum asphalt
content
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9. Select optimum asphalt
content
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9. Select optimum asphalt
content