Aashto PP 105-20

Standard Practice for
Balanced Design of Asphalt

Mixtures
AASHTO Designation: PP 105-201

Technical Subcommittee: 2d, Proportioning of Asphalt–
Aggregate Mixtures
Release: Group 3 (July)
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

555 12th Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004
Accessed by account: Auburn University Libraries | Date: Mon May 24 09:10:26 2021 | IP address: 131.204.75.42
Standard Practice for
Balanced Design of Asphalt Mixtures
AASHTO Designation: PP 105-20 1

Technical Subcommittee: 2d, Proportioning of
Asphalt–Aggregate Mixtures
Release: Group 3 (July)
1. SCOPE
1.1. This standard practice serves as a framework for balanced design of asphalt mixtures that governs
the development of an asphalt mixture job mix formula based on mixture volumetric properties,
performance-based/related test results, or both.
1.2. This standard practice may also be used to provide a preliminary selection of mix parameters as a
starting point for performance prediction analyses.
1.3. This standard practice may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This
standard practice does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this procedure to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. REFERENCED STANDARDS
2.1. AASHTO Standards:
 M 323, Superpave Volumetric Mix Design
 MP 46, Balanced Mix Design
 R 35, Superpave Volumetric Design for Asphalt Mixtures
2.2. Other Documents:

 Asphalt Institute. MS-2 Asphalt Mix Design Methods. 7th ed. Asphalt Institute Inc.,
Lexington, KY, 2015.
 FHWA. LTPP Seasonal Asphalt Concrete Pavement Temperature Models, LTPPBind 3.1.
Available from https://infopave.fhwa.dot.gov/Page/Index/LTPP_BIND
3. TERMINOLOGY
3.1. Definitions:
3.1.1. air voids (Va)—the total volume of the small pockets of air between the coated aggregate particles
throughout a compacted paving mixture, expressed as a percent of the bulk volume of the
compacted paving mixture (Note 1).
Note 1—Term defined in Asphalt Institute Publication MS-2 Asphalt Mix Design Methods.
TS 2d PP 105-1 AASHTO
© 2020 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
3.1.2. balanced mix design (BMD)—asphalt mix design using performance tests on appropriately
conditioned specimens that address multiple modes of distress taking into consideration mix
aging, traffic, climate, and location within the pavement structure (Note 2).
Note 2—Term defined by the FHWA Expert Task Group on Mixtures and Construction in 2015.
3.1.3. binder content (Pb)—the percentage by mass of binder in the total mixture, including binder and
aggregate.
3.1.4. effective binder content (Pbe)—the percentage by mass of binder in the total mixture that is not
absorbed into the aggregate.
3.1.5. voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA)—the volume of the intergranular void space between the
aggregate particles of a compacted paving mixture that includes the air voids and the effective
binder content, expressed as a percentage of the total volume of the specimen (Note 1).
4. SUMMARY OF THE PRACTICE

4.1. Optimal Balanced Mix Design Approaches:
4.1.1. Approach A—Volumetric Design with Performance Verification. This approach starts with the
current volumetric mix design method (i.e., Superpave, Marshall, or Hveem) for determining an
optimum asphalt binder content. The mixture is then tested with selected performance tests to
assess its resistance to rutting, cracking, and moisture damage at the optimum binder content. If
the mix design meets the performance test criteria, the job mix formula is established and
production begins; otherwise, the entire mix design process is repeated using different materials
(e.g., aggregates, asphalt binders, recycled materials, and additives) or mix proportions until all of
the volumetric and performance criteria are satisfied.
4.1.2. Approach B—Volumetric Design with Performance Optimization. This approach is an expanded
version of Approach A. It also starts with the current volumetric mix design method (i.e.,
Superpave, Marshall, or Hveem) for determining a preliminary optimum asphalt binder content.
Mixture performance tests are then conducted on the mix design at the preliminary optimum
asphalt binder content and two or more additional contents. The asphalt binder content that
satisfies all of the cracking, rutting, and moisture damage criteria is finally identified as the
optimum asphalt binder content. In cases where a single binder content does not exist, the entire
mix design process needs to be repeated using different materials (e.g., aggregates, asphalt
binders, recycled materials, and additives) or mix proportions until all of the performance criteria
are satisfied.
4.1.3. Approach C—Performance-Modified Volumetric Mix Design. This approach begins with the
current volumetric mix design method (i.e., Superpave, Marshall, or Hveem) to establish initial
component material properties, proportions, and binder content. The performance test results are
then used to adjust either the initial binder content or mix component properties or proportions
(e.g., aggregates, asphalt binders, recycled materials, and additives) until the performance criteria
are satisfied. For this approach, the final design is primarily focused on meeting performance test
criteria and may not be required to meet all of the Superpave volumetric criteria.
4.1.4. Approach D—Performance Design. This approach establishes and adjusts mixture components
and proportions based on performance analysis with limited or no requirements for volumetric
properties. Minimum requirements may be set for asphalt binder and aggregate properties. Once
the laboratory test results meet the performance criteria, the mixture volumetrics may be checked
for use in production.
5. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1. The procedure described in this standard practice is used to produce asphalt mixtures that satisfy
balanced mix design requirements.
APPROACH A
6. VOLUMETRIC DESIGN WITH PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION

6.1. Design asphalt mixture in accordance with R 35 or the current volumetric mix design method
specified by the state highway agency, or use an existing approved mix design.
6.2. Select one rutting test and one cracking test from MP 46 Section 5 and Section 6, respectively.
6.3. Evaluate the mix design at the optimum binder content for rutting and cracking resistance.
6.4. If the rutting and cracking test results satisfy the corresponding performance criteria in MP 46
Section 5 and Section 6, proceed to Section 6.5; otherwise, return to Section 6.1 and repeat the
mix design process using different materials (e.g., aggregates, asphalt binders, recycled materials,
and additives) or mix proportions.
6.5. Select one moisture damage test from MP 46 Section 7, and evaluate the mix design for moisture
susceptibility.
6.6. If the moisture damage test results satisfy the corresponding performance criteria in MP 46
Section 7, establish the job mix formula; otherwise, take remedial action such as the use of
antistrip agents, different sources or grades of asphalt binders, or different types of aggregates to
improve the moisture resistance of the mix and retest the mix to assure compliance with the same
mixture rutting, cracking, and moisture damage test criteria.
APPROACH B
7. VOLUMETRIC DESIGN WITH PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION

7.1. Select a preliminary optimum asphalt binder content and volumetric properties in accordance to
R 35 or the current volumetric mix design method specified by the state highway agency, or use
an existing approved mix design.
7.3. Conduct the rutting and cracking tests at the preliminary optimum binder content determined in
Section 7.1 and two or more additional binder contents at intervals of ±0.3 percent to ±0.6 percent
that bracket the preliminary optimum binder content.
7.4. Determine the final optimum asphalt binder content that satisfies both the rutting and cracking
criteria in MP 46 Section 5 and Section 6. In cases where a single binder content does not satisfy
all criteria, return to Section 7.1 and repeat the mix design process using different materials (e.g.,
aggregates, asphalt binders, recycled materials, and additives) or mix proportions.
7.5. Select one moisture damage test from MP 46 Section 7 and evaluate the mix design at the final
optimum asphalt binder content for moisture susceptibility.
Section 7, establish the job mix formula; otherwise, take remedial action such as the use of
antistrip agents, different sources or grades of asphalt binders, or different types of aggregates to
improve the moisture resistance of the mix and retest the mix to assure compliance with the same
mixture rutting, cracking, and moisture damage test criteria.
APPROACH C
8. PERFORMANCE-MODIFIED VOLUMETRIC MIX DESIGN

8.1. Determine an initial aggregate structure and binder content in accordance to R 35 or the current
volumetric mix design method specified by the state highway agency, or use an existing approved
mix design.
8.3. Evaluate the mix design at the initial aggregate structure and binder content for rutting and
cracking resistance.
8.4. If the mix design satisfies the performance criteria in MP 46 Section 5 and Section 6, proceed to
Section 8.5; otherwise, adjust the initial binder content or use different mix component properties
or proportions (e.g., aggregates, asphalt binders, recycled materials, and additives) and then repeat
Section 8.3 until the performance criteria are satisfied.
susceptibility.
Section 7, proceed to Section 8.7; otherwise, take remedial action such as the use of antistrip
agents, different sources or grades of asphalt binders, or different types of aggregates to improve
the moisture resistance of the mix and retest the mix to assure compliance with the same mixture
rutting, cracking, and moisture damage test criteria.
8.7. Check and report the volumetric properties of the mix design at the optimum binder content
(Note 3).
Note 3—Highway agencies should decide which existing volumetric criteria could be relaxed or
eliminated without sacrificing mixture performance.
APPROACH D
9. PERFORMANCE DESIGN
9.1. Consider using LTPP Bind software to select the appropriate asphalt binder grade for the mixture.
9.2. Consider using an aggregate gradation conforming to Table 4 in M 323.
9.3. Select three or more design binder contents at intervals of 0.3 to 0.5 percent.
9.5. Conduct the rutting and cracking tests at the selected aggregate structure and binder contents.
9.6. Determine the optimum asphalt binder content that satisfies both the rutting and cracking criteria
in MP 46 Section 5 and Section 6. In cases where a single binder content does not satisfy all
criteria, repeat Section 9.5 using different mix component properties or proportions (e.g.,
aggregates, asphalt binders, recycled materials, and additives).
susceptibility.
Section 7, proceed to Section 9.9; otherwise, take remedial action such as the use of antistrip
agents, different sources or grades of asphalt binders, or different types of aggregates to improve
the moisture resistance of the mix and retest the mix to assure compliance with the same mixture
rutting, cracking, and moisture damage test criteria.
9.9. Check and report the volumetric properties of the mix design at the optimum binder content
(Note 3).
10. REPORT
10.1. The report shall include the identification of the project number, traffic level, mix type, and mix
design number if available.
10.2. The report shall include information on the design aggregate structure including the source of
aggregate, lithology of aggregate, required quality characteristics, and gradation.
10.3. The report shall contain information about the design binder including the source of binder,
performance grade, and type of asphalt binder modifier/additive if used.
10.4. The report shall contain information about the design asphalt mixture including selected laboratory
performance tests, optimum asphalt binder content, volumetric properties with specifications, and
performance test results and criteria.
11. KEYWORDS
11.1. Asphalt mix design; balanced mix design; performance testing; volumetric mix design.
1
This provisional standard was first published in 2020.

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Standard Practice for

Balanced Design of Asphalt

AASHTO Designation: PP 105-201

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Balanced Design of Asphalt Mixtures

AASHTO Designation: PP 105-20 1

2.2. Other Documents:

4. SUMMARY OF THE PRACTICE

6. VOLUMETRIC DESIGN WITH PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION

7. VOLUMETRIC DESIGN WITH PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION

8. PERFORMANCE-MODIFIED VOLUMETRIC MIX DESIGN

9.2. Consider using an aggregate gradation conforming to Table 4 in M 323.

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