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Experiment NO: 10

MARSHALL STABILITY TEST

SIGNIFICANCE:

Important significances of Marshal Stability test are given below.


Optimum %age of bitumen is obtained for given type of aggregate and traffic
intensity.
Used in designing and evaluating the asphalt concrete mixes.
Density, voids and stability parameters are determined during the Marshall test.

Related Theory:

a.

Stability
The stability of mix is the maximum load carried by a compacted specimen at a
standard temperature of 60 C.

b.

Flow
The flow is measured as a deformation in units of 0.01 between no load and
maximum load carried by the specimen during stability test.

APPARATUS

Following apparatus is required for this test.


Specimen mold assembly
Specimen extractor
Compaction hammer
Compaction pedestal
Specimen mold holder
Breaking head
Loading machine
Ovens
Hot plates
Mixing apparatus
Water bath

PROCEDURE:

The Marshall Mix design method consists of 6 basic steps:


Aggregate selection
Asphalt binder selection
Sample preparation (including compaction)
Stability determination using the Marshall stability and flow test
Density and voids calculations
Optimum asphalt binder content selection
Detail procedure is given below.
Place all the aggregates in fixed proportion on hot plates at a temp of 250F
Bitumen of specific grade is heated to approximately 350F
The different size of aggregates are put together in desired proportion and
predetermined amount of asphalt is added
The mixing operation is carried manually
After mixing , the mix is placed in a preheated(200-300F) compaction mould
Place the compaction mold on compaction pedestal
With the help of hammer , 75 blows are given on each side
Extract the specimen from the mold with the help of extractor
The specimen is cooled in the air and sample is identified with suitable mark
Bulk density of specimen is determined by weighing the specimen first in air
and then in water.
The specimen is immersed in water at a temperature of 60C for 30 to 40 min
The specimen is removed from the water bath and is placed with its horizontal
axle into the test heads
The complete assembly is quickly placed on the base plate of Marshall loading
machine
Place the flow dial gauge and proving gauge at required place and adjust to
zero reading
Start the machine in such a way that base plate moves at rate of 2 per min
Record the values of maximum flow dial gauge and load dial gauge and
machine is reversed
The elapsed time for the test after the removal of specimen from water bath to
maximum load determination should not more than 30 min
The stability values of sample are corrected when the height of sample is
greater than or less than 2.5 by using correction factor
when height > 2.5
when height < 2.5

then C.F. < 1


then C.F. > 1

3.1

COMPACTION WITH HAMMER:

Each sample is heated to the anticipated temperature and compacted with a Marshall hammer.
Key parameters of the compactor are:
Sample size = 102 mm (4-inch) diameter cylinder 64 mm (2.5 inch) in height.
Tamper foot = flat and circular with a diameter of 98.4 mm (3.875 inches)
corresponding to an area of 76 cm2 (11.8 in2).
Compaction pressure = specified as a 457.2mm free fall drop distance of a hammer
assembly with 4536 gm (10 lb) sliding weight.
Number of blows = typically 35, 50, 75 on each side depending upon anticipated
traffic loading.
Simulation method = the tamper foot strikes the sample on the top and covers almost
entire area. After a specified number of blows, the sample is turned over and the
procedure is repeated.

Figure: Marshal Stability Test Apparatus

4 Calculations:
Three basic purpose of test are

1. Determination of bulk specific gravity


2. Void analysis
3. Stability flow analysis
4.1

VOID ANALYSIS

Following equations are used for void analysis.


Vv = [(Gt Gb)/ Gt]*100

Where
Gb = Bulk specific gravity
Gt = Theoretical specific gravity of specimen
Gt = 100/[(W1/G1) + (W2/G2) + (W3/G3) + (W4/G4)]
Where
W1 = %age of coarse aggregate in mix
W2 = %age of fine aggregate in mix
W3 = %age of filler aggregate in mix
W4 = %age of asphalt in mix
VMA = Vv + Vb
Where
Vb = volume of bitumen or asphalt
Vb = (W4/G4)*Gb
VFB = (Vb/VMA)*100

Figure: Volumetric Properties

4.2

GRAPH

Following graphs need to be drawn:


%age of asphalt binder by Weight ~ %age of air voids
%age of asphalt binder by Weight ~ Density or unit weight (psf)
%age of asphalt binder by Weight ~ Flow (0.01)
%age of asphalt binder by Weight ~ Marshall stability (lbs)
%age of asphalt binder by Weight ~ %age of VFA
%age of asphalt binder by Weight ~ %age of VMA

4.3

OPTIMUM ASPHALT CONTENT

Following method used for optimum asphalt content calculation.


Determine the asphalt binder content that corresponds to the specifications median
air void content (typically this is 4 %)
Determine properties at this optimum asphalt binder content by referring to the
plots.
Compare each of these values against specification values and if all are within
specification, then the preceding optimum asphalt binder content is satisfactory.
Otherwise, if any of these properties is outside the specification range the mixture
should be redesigned.

Test Properties Curves/Marshall Design Curves

% AC Vs Flow
16
14
12

Flow

10
8
6
4
2
0
0

% AC
Flow

Linear (Flow)

% AC Vs Stability
2850
2800

Stability

2750
2700
2650
2600
2550
2500
2450
0

% AC
Stability

Poly. (Stability)

VFA

% AC Va VFA
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

% AC
VFA

Linear (VFA)

% AC Vs Gmb
143.5
143

Gmb

142.5
142
141.5
141
140.5
140
0

% AC
Unit Bulk Density

Poly. (Unit Bulk Density)

% Air Voids

% AC Vs Air Voids
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

% AC
% Air Voids

Linear (% Air Voids)

% AC Vs VMA
19.6
19.4

VMA

19.2
19
18.8
18.6
18.4
18.2
18
0

% AC
VMA

Poly. (VMA)

Comments:

The Marshall Stability value increases with increasing asphalt binder content up to a
maximum after which the stability value decreases. Design curve shows that stability
value decreases with increasing asphalt content and do not have a peak value.
The Marshall Flow value increases with increasing asphalt binder content. In other
words, the higher the asphalt binder content, the greater the specimen deforms under
load.
The mixture air voids, Pa, decreases with increasing asphalt content, until it reaches a
minimum air void content.
Asphalt binder acts as lubricant while the mixture is being compacted, thus leading
that mixtures with a higher asphalt binder content have a lower VMA percentage.
What is usually observed is that the VMA generally decreases to a minimum value,
then increases with increasing asphalt binder content.
The percent voids filled with asphalt, VFA, increases with asphalt binder content.
This should be expected since the VMA is being filled with the asphalt binder.
Gmb is also increasing with increase in asphalt binder content. At an extent it increases
but after that it starts decreasing.The reason is that as we add more binder in aggregate
it fills the voids and thatS why increasing the overall Gmb but when voids are filled
with binder and binder starts making film then Gmb starts decreasing.

Determine the Optimum Asphalt Binder Content

Method 1
According to specifications design asphalt is that which contains 4% air voids. So against the
4% air voids we select the asphalt content in asphalt content and air voids graph. At this
asphalt binder content we select the remaining Marshall Test properties values and this will
be the optimum asphalt content.
Method 2
Another method to select the optimum asphalt binder content is to select each individual
asphalt binder content from the Marshall Design curves based on the following criteria:

The asphalt binder content at the midpoint of the specification range for the mixture
air voids.
The asphalt binder content at the maximum stability value.
The asphalt binder content at the peak of the specification range for unit weight curve
(Gmb).

Then the three possible asphalt binder content values are then averaged to give the optimum
asphalt binder content.

Method 1

% Air Voids

% AC Vs Air Voids
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

% AC
% Air Voids

Linear (% Air Voids)

% AC Vs Flow
16
14
12

Flow

10
8
6
4
2
0
0

% AC
Flow

Linear (Flow)

% AC Vs Stability
2850
2800

Stability

2750
2700
2650
2600
2550
2500
2450
0

% AC
Stability

Poly. (Stability)

VFA

% AC Va VFA
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

% AC
VFA

Linear (VFA)

% AC Vs Gmb
143.5
143

Gmb

142.5
142
141.5
141
140.5
140
0

% AC
Unit Bulk Density

Poly. (Unit Bulk Density)

% AC Vs VMA
19.6
19.4

VMA

19.2
19
18.8
18.6
18.4
18.2
18
0

% AC
VMA

Parameters
Mixture Air Voids, Pa
VMA
VFA
Marshall Flow
Marshall Stability
Mixture Unit Weight, Gmb

Poly. (VMA)

Optimum Asphalt binder


content (%)
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.9

Value
4%
18.59%
78%
14(0.1in)
2750
142.85 pcf

Method 2

% Air Voids

% AC Vs Air Voids
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

% AC
% Air Voids

Linear (% Air Voids)

% AC Vs Stability
2850
2800

Stability

2750
2700
2650
2600
2550
2500
2450
0

% AC
Stability

Poly. (Stability)

% AC Vs Gmb
143.5
143

Gmb

142.5
142
141.5
141
140.5
140
0

% AC
Unit Bulk Density

Poly. (Unit Bulk Density)

Average Asphalt Content = 6.9+6.5+6.9/3 = 6.77 %

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