See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/339400165

Summary of Hot Mix Asphalt Preparation by Marshall Method: Mixing,

Compaction, and Stability and Flow

Method · February 2020

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10117.09449

CITATIONS READS

0 54

1 author:

Ahmed Hemida
Missouri University of Science and Technology
13 PUBLICATIONS   7 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Proposed Development Corridor in Egypt, by Dr. Farouk El-Baz View project

Utilization of Guayule Resin for sustainable Asphalt Replacement View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Ahmed Hemida on 21 February 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Summary of Hot Mix Asphalt Preparation by Marshall Method: Mixing,
Compaction, and Stability and Flow

Ahmed Hemida, amhbnc@mst.edu

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science
and Technology (Missouri S&T), USA.
In this report, a summary of hands-on experience will be presented regarding the hot mix asphalt
(HMA) preparation by Marshall method: Mixing, Compaction, and Stability and Flow.

Mixing Process

 Oven-dry a sufficient amount of different categories of aggregate (coarse and fine) at 110±5℃
until a constant mass achieved

Preheating different aggregates before combination

 Determine the mixing and compaction temperatures using a rotational viscometer according to
ASTM D4402

Rotational Viscometer: Preheating the viscometer chamber, container, spindle, and asphalt binder to the initial testing
temperature (e.g., 135℃)
 Mix the oven-dry aggregates with respect to the specification limits (e.g., BP-1) according to
MoDOT Section 401: Plant Mix Bituminous Base and Pavement, and place such a mix in the oven
at the mixing temperature plus no more than 28℃

 Prepare the Marshall hammer and mold

o Clean

o Preheated at 95-150℃

Preheated Marshall Hammer, 95–150℃

 Preheat the mixing bowls to the mixing temperature

 Preheat the asphalt cement, no more than one hour at the mixing temperature

Preheated Marshall Molds, asphalt binder, and mixing bowls

 Weigh a sufficient amount of the mixed aggregate in the mixing bowl, and add the asphalt cement
to achieve the desired asphalt content in such a batch

 Use a mechanical mixer (recommended) to mix aggregate with asphalt cement for about three
minutes or until you make sure that the asphalt has coated all aggregate particles (all black)
 Small Asphalt Mixer
Compaction Process

 Mold Packing

o Place a paper disk on the mold bottom

Paper Disk
o Place the required asphalt mix amount in the mold (approximately 1.2 kg) with the collar

o Use a heated spatula/trowel to level the mix surface in the mold

o Place a paper disk on the top of the mix surface in the mold

 Fix the mold in the mold holder

Marshal Compaction Base

 Choose the required number of blows according to the traffic condition (35 blows for light traffic,
50 blows for medium traffic, and 75 blows for heavy traffic) with a free perpendicular fall by the
standard hummer from 457 mm height

 Remove the base plate and the collar

 Reverse and reassemble the mold (upside down)

 Apply the same procedures for the reversed specimen

 Remove the base plate and the paper disks

 Cool down the specimen at room temperature in the mold (takes about 30–40 min)

 Take the specimen (core) out of the mold by using an extrusion jack

Extrusion Jack
 Place the core on a flat surface and leave it to cool down overnight before any consecutive tests

Compacted Asphalt Mixes: Cores

Marshall Stability and Flow Test

Marshall Stability and Flow Test Setup

Objective – To measure the resistance of plastic deformation of cylindrical specimen of a bituminous
mixture when the sample is loaded at a rate of loading of 5 cm/min.

Procedures

 Recognize the specimen height to use the proper stability correlation factor according to ASTM
D6927

 Place the mold in a water bath at 60℃ for 30–40 min

 Set the compression machine with the ring and flowmeter on the zero set

All specimens must be tested with the same assembly. The specimen is supposed to have a diameter of
101.6±0.25 mm. otherwise, determine the initial and final readings of the flow.
 Keep the inside surfaces of the testing heads clean before testing

 Keep them at 21.1–37.8℃ (the room temperature is ok)

 Make sure “no-load” position

 Take the core from the water bath and dry its surface with a towel

 Center the core on the lower head, and fit the upper head on it

 Place the flowmeter over the marked guide rod

  Apply a rate of loading of 51 mm/min until failure (max load obtained)

Marshall stability value = max force in Newton

 In case of no auto flowmeter records, before load begins to decrease, remove immediately, take
readings, and record manually

 The reading, in that case, is the flow value (units of 0.25 mm)

Example: a deformation of 3.8 mm corresponds to a flow of 15.

Note: the stability and flow test have to be done via 30 seconds after taking the core from the water bath.

Will be updated upon any adjustments required….

References

1. https://www.modot.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019_MO_Std_Spec_Gen_Supp_%28July
%202019%29_1.pdf.
2. ASTM International. D4402/D4402M-15 Standard Test Method for Viscosity Determination of
Asphalt at Elevated Temperatures Using a Rotational Viscometer. West Conshohocken, PA;
ASTM International, 2015. doi: https://doi.org/10.1520/D4402_D4402M-15.
3. ASTM International. D6926-16 Standard Practice for Preparation of Asphalt Mixture Specimens
Using Marshall Apparatus. West Conshohocken, PA; ASTM International, 2016.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1520/D6926-16.
4. ASTM International. D6927-15 Standard Test Method for Marshall Stability and Flow of Asphalt
Mixtures. West Conshohocken, PA; ASTM International, 2015. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1520/D6927-15.

View publication stats