OPTIMIZING ASPHALT MIX DESIGNS

MIX DEVELOPMENT, AGENCY APPROVAL, MATERIAL MANAGEMENT, FIELD ADJUSTMENTS Rocky Mountain Asphalt Conference and Equipment Show February 25, 2010

DEFINE OPTIMIZING
Whos Perspective
Producer Paving Contractor General Contractor Owner

MIX DEVELOPMENT
Project Specifications
Asphalt Binder Selection Recycled Materials Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Recycled Asphalt Shingles (RAS)

MIX DEVELOPMENT
Aggregate Source / Characteristics Aggregate Production
Stationary or Mobile Plant

Hot Mix Asphalt Production

Stationary or Mobile Plant

Design Considerations

Design Considerations

Quality

Design Considerations

Quality

Availability

Design Considerations

Quality

Availability

Balance

Design Considerations

Quality

Availability

Balance

Design Considerations

Quality

Economics Availability Balance

AGENCY APPROVAL
Conformance to contract requirements Selection of JMF

Durability considerations Appropriate binder content for location Strength (stability) considerations Avoid fat side of VMA

MATERIAL MANAGEMENT
Aggregate Quality Control
Tests Gradation, Specific Gravity, Angularity Frequency Stockpiling / Handling

Recycled Product(s) Quality Control

Tests Asphalt Binder Content, Gradation, Binder Grade Frequency Stockpiling / Handling

MATERIAL MANAGEMENT
Asphalt Binder
Tenacity

Tests Binder Grading AASHTO M320, PG 64-28 add Toughness and Frequency Storage and Handling

Hot Mix Asphalt Production Control

Tests Gradation, Asphalt Binder Content, Theoretical Maximum Frequency

Specific Gravity, % Voids, Calculate % Voids in Mineral Aggregate

FIELD ADJUSTMENTS
Typical Production Results versus Laboratory Design Data for the Same Gradation and Asphalt Binder content:
Increased Bulk Specific Gravity of Mixture Lower % Voids in Mix Lower Calculated % VMA

FIELD ADJUSTMENTS
Adjusting to Meet Volumetric Targets During Production

Acceptance Criteria Gradation Acceptance or Voids Acceptance? Analyze Trends

Binder content in comparison with Rice Binder content in comparison with air voids

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FIELD ADJUSTMENTS
Gradation Acceptance / Voids Acceptance
Reduce Asphalt Binder Content if %VMA is OK Change Gradation For a mix above the Maximum Density Line target the

Fine Side of the Targets without increasing -#200

Reject Baghouse Fines if Necessary to Reduce -#200 Request Target Changes to Asphalt Binder Content and Gradation / Request Target Change to Asphalt Binder Content
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