Marshall Mix Design

CIVL 3137 46
Asphalt Concrete Properties
Stability
Workability
Skid Resistance
Durability
Stripping
Fatigue Cracking
Thermal Cracking
Bleeding
CIVL 3137 47
Stability
Theability to withstand traffic loads without
distortion or deflection, especially at higher
temperatures.
To get goodstability, usestrong, rough, dense-graded, cubical aggregate
with just enough binder to coat the aggregate particles. Excess asphalt
cement lubricates the aggregate particles and lets themslide past each
other more easily (which reduces stability). But a thick asphalt coating
providesgoodflexibilitytoresist cracking, whichisdesirable. Hmmm
CIVL 3137 48
Workability
Theability to beplaced and compacted with
reasonable effort and without segregation of
thecoarseaggregate.
Toomuchasphalt cement makesthemix tender. Toolittleasphalt cement
makes it hardto compact. Too muchnatural sandcanalso makethemix
tender becausenatural sandhassmooth, roundgrains. Hmmm
CIVL 3137 49
Skid Resistance
Proper tractioninwet anddryconditions.
To get good skid resistance, use smaller aggregate so there are lots of
contact points, usehardaggregatethat doesnt polishandmakesureyou
haveenoughair voidstoprevent bleeding.
Somestates nowuseanopen-gradedfrictioncourse(OGFC) that allows
water todraintothesidesof thepavement, eliminatinghydroplaning. But
OGFC isnot verydurablebecauseof theopenpores. Hmmm
CIVL 3137 50
Durability
Theability toresist aggregatebreakdowndue
to wetting and drying, freezing and thawing,
or excessiveinter-particleforces.
To get good durability, use strong, tough, nonporous aggregate and
enough asphalt cement to completely coat all of the aggregate particles
(to keepthemdry) andfill all of thevoids betweenparticles (to slowthe
oxidationof theasphalt cement). But thisreducesstability. Hmmm
CIVL 3137 51
Stripping
Separationof theasphalt cement coatingfrom
the aggregate due to water getting between
theasphalt andtheaggregate.
To reduce stripping, use clean, rough, hydrophobic aggregate and add
enough asphalt cement to provide a thick coating of asphalt on every
aggregateparticle. Thisimprovesdurabilitybut decreasesstability.
CIVL 3137 52
Bleeding
The migration of asphalt cement to the surface
of thepavement under wheel loads, especially
at higher temperatures.
To prevent bleeding, incorporate enough air voids so the asphalt can
compress by closing air voids rather than by squeezing asphalt cement
out frombetweentheaggregateparticles.
CIVL 3137 53
Fatigue Cracking
Cracking resulting from repeated flexure of
theasphalt concreteduetotrafficloads.
To minimize fatigue cracking, use the proper asphalt cement grade and
have a thick asphalt cement coating to make the concrete flexible. This
improvesdurabilitybut decreasesstability.
CIVL 3137 54
Thermal Cracking
Cracking that results from an inability to
acclimatetoasuddendropintemperature.
To minimize thermal cracking, use the proper asphalt cement grade.
CIVL 3137 55
Mix Design Basics
The right grade of asphalt cement
Relates to fatigue cracking, thermal cracking, stability
The right type of aggregate
Relates to stability, durability, stripping, skid resistance
The right mix volumetrics
Relates to stability, durability, stripping, bleeding, skid resistance
CIVL 3137 56
Right Type of Asphalt Cement
76 70 64 58 52 46 -4 -10 -16 -22 -28
PG70-22
Reliability = (1.00)(0.98) = 98%
~0% ~2% ~100% ~98%
Lowest 1-day
Pavement
Temperature
Highest 7-day
Pavement
Temperature
CIVL 3137 57
The Right Type of Aggregate
1. Strong and Durable
2. No Deleterious Substances
3. Cubical (Angular and Equidimensional)
4. Low Porosity
5. Clean, Rough, and Hydrophobic
6. Hard
7. Dense-Graded
CIVL 3137 58
The Right Mix Volumetrics
Bleeding
Low stability
Tender mix
Stripping
Low durability
Fatigue cracking
CIVL 3137 59
Marshall Mix Design
Bruce Marshall, Mississippi Highway Department
Marshall Mix Design Steps
1. Create aggregate blend to meet gradation specifications.
2. Establish mixing and compaction temperatures from the
viscosity-temperature chart.
3. Compact three specimens at each of five asphalt contents
spanning the expected optimum asphalt content.
4. Determine the relative density of each specimen and the
mix volumetrics (
mb
, VTM, VMA, VFA).
5. Measure the performance properties of the each specimen
at 60C (140F).
CIVL 3137 60
CIVL 3137 61
Marshall Specimens
Traffic Blows / Side
Light 35
Medium 50
Heavy 75
10
#
18"
Make 3 specimens at each of
5 different asphalt contents
CIVL 3137 62
Marshall Hammer
Mold
Hammer
CIVL 3137 70
Stability and Flow Test
140
o
F
flow
stability
deflection
(0.01 in)
load
(lbs)
CIVL 3137 71
Stability and Flow Test
CIVL 3137 72
Marshall Mix Design
159
160
161
162
163
164
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
U
n
i
t

W
e
i
g
h
t

(
p
c
f
)
CIVL 3137 73
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
M
a
r
s
h
a
l
l

S
t
a
b
i
l
i
t
y

(
l
b
s
)
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 74
1
2
3
4
5
6
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
A
i
r

V
o
i
d
s

(
%
)
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 75
0
5
10
15
20
25
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
F
l
o
w
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 76
50
60
70
80
90
100
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
V
o
i
d
s

F
i
l
l
e
d

w
i
t
h

A
s
p
h
a
l
t

(
%
)
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 77
Marshall Mix Design
% 7 . 4
3
3 . 4 7 . 4 1 . 5
AC

Maximum
Density
Maximum
Stability
4% Air
Voids
(The Asphalt Institute Procedure)
CIVL 3137 78
Marshall Mix Design

5.1
AC
4.7

4.3
4.3%
1
Maximum
Density
Maximum
Stability
4% Air
Voids
(The NAPA Procedure)
This is what TDOT uses
CIVL 3137 79
Marshall Mix Design
(Asphalt Institute Criteria)
Cri teri a Mi n. Max. Mi n. Max. Mi n. Max.
Number of Bl ows
Stabi l i ty (l bs) 500 750 1500
Fl ow 8 20 8 18 8 16
Ai r Voi ds (%) 3 5 3 5 3 5
VMA (%)
See Next Sl i de
Li ght Traffi c Medi um Traffi c Heavy Traffi c
35 50 75
16 14
1800
TDOT
uses
2000
18
750 1200
CIVL 3137 80
VMA Criteria
M
i
n
i
m
u
m

V
M
A

(
%
)
10
Nominal Maximum Particle Size
20
30
40
50
2" 1" 1" " " 4 3/8" 8 40
Deficient in either
asphalt or air voids
(Assuming 4% Design Air Voids)
CIVL 3137 81
VMA Criteria
M
i
n
i
m
u
m

V
M
A

(
%
)
10
Nominal Maximum Particle Size
20
30
40
50
2" 1" 1" " " 4 3/8" 8 40
Deficient in either
asphalt or air voids
(Assuming 5%Design Air Voids)
1%
CIVL 3137 82
VMA Criteria
M
i
n
i
m
u
m

V
M
A

(
%
)
10
Nominal Maximum Particle Size
20
30
40
50
2" 1" 1" " " 4 3/8" 8 40
Deficient in either
asphalt or air voids
(Assuming 3%Design Air Voids)
1%
CIVL 3137 83
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
M
a
r
s
h
a
l
l

S
t
a
b
i
l
i
t
y

(
l
b
s
)
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 84
0
5
10
15
20
25
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
F
l
o
w
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 85
1
2
3
4
5
6
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
A
i
r

V
o
i
d
s

(
%
)
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 86
50
60
70
80
90
100
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
V
o
i
d
s

F
i
l
l
e
d

w
i
t
h

A
s
p
h
a
l
t

(
%
)
Marshall Mix Design
CIVL 3137 87
VMA Criteria
M
i
n
i
m
u
m

V
M
A

(
%
)
10
Nominal Maximum Particle Size
20
30
40
50
2" 1" 1" " " 4 3/8" 8 40
Deficient in either
asphalt or air voids
CIVL 3137 88
13
14
15
16
17
18
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
Asphalt Content (%)
V
M
A

(
%
)
Marshall Mix Design
TDOT requires
the AC to be less
than that which
minimizes VMA
CIVL 3137 89
Ways to Increase VMA
1. Reduce the dust content
2. Open the aggregate gradation
3. Gap-grade the aggregate blend
4. Increase manufactured sand
5. Reduce flat-and-elongated particles