HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H.

Abed Ali
Hveem Design Method for HMA
1-Introduction
The basic concepts of the Hveem mix design method were originally developed
by Francis Hveem when he was a Resident Engineer for the California Division of
Highways in the late 1920 and 1930.
Hveem worked to develop a device that would measure stability, which eventually
became the Hveem Stabilometer.
One more problem existed: specimens compacted in the laboratory for the
Stabilometer did not produce the same readings as those taken from field cores.
Therefore, a new compaction machine, which eventually became the California
Kneading Compactor, was developed to more closely simulate the compaction
produced by rollers in the field.
The basic philosophy surrounding the Hveem method can be summarized in the
follow;
1. HMA requires enough asphalt binder to coat each
aggregate particle to an optimum film thickness
(allowing for its absorption into the aggregate).
2. HMA requires sufficient stability to resist traffic loading.
This stability is generated by internal friction between
aggregate particles and cohesion (or tensile strength)
created by the binder.
3. HMA durability increases with thicker asphalt binder film thicknesses.
The design asphalt content is selected as that asphalt content resulting in the
highest durability without dropping below a minimum allowable stability. (As much
asphalt binder as possible should be used while still meeting minimum stability
requirements).
2-The Hveem Mix Design Method consists of 6 basic steps;
Standard procedures used in Hveem mix design are:
• AASHTO T 246: Resistance to Deformation and Cohesion of Bituminous
Mixtures by Means of Hveem Apparatus (ASTM 1560).
• AASHTO T 247: Preparation of Test Specimens of Bituminous Mixtures by
Means of the California Kneading Compactor (ASTM 1561).
1) Aggregate Selection.
a) Determine aggregate physical properties.
This consists of running various tests to determine properties such as:
a. Toughness and abrasion. (Los Angles test)
b. Durability and soundness.
c. Cleanliness and deleterious materials.
d. Particle shape and surface texture.

1
HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H. Abed Ali
b) Determine other aggregate descriptive physical properties.
If the aggregate is acceptable according to step #1, additional tests are
run to fully characterize the aggregate. These tests determine:
a. Gradation and size distribution.
b. Specific gravity and absorption.
c) Perform blending calculations to achieve the mix design aggregate
gradation.
Often, aggregates from more than one source or stockpile are used to
obtain the final aggregate gradation used in a mix design. Trial blends of
these different gradations are usually calculated until an acceptable final
mix design gradation is achieved. Typical considerations for a trial blend
include:
a. All gradation specifications must be met. Typical specifications will
require the percent retained by weight on particular sieve sizes to be
within a certain band.
b. The gradation should not be too close to the FHWA's 0.45 power
maximum density curve. If it is, then the VMA is likely to be too low.
Gradation should deviate from the FHWA's 0.45 power maximum
density curve, especially on the 2.36 mm (No. 8) sieve.

2)Asphalt Binder Selection

Hveem did not specifically develop an asphalt binder evaluation and selection
procedure.
3) Sample Preparation

The Hveem method, like other mix design methods, creates several trial
aggregate-asphalt binder blends, each with different asphalt binder content.
Then, by evaluating each trial blend's performance, optimum asphalt binder
content can be selected. In order for this concept to work, the trial blends
must contain a range of asphalt contents both above and below the optimum
asphalt content. This can be accomplished by either of two ways:
1. Select the asphalt binder content for each trial blend from a predetermined
list. Many agencies have predetermined lists that specify the asphalt
content for each trial blend. It is assumed that the optimum asphalt binder
content will lie within the range of specified trail blend values.
2. Estimate the optimum asphalt binder content then select trail blends with
asphalt binder contents at, above and below the estimated optimum
content. One common estimation method is the centrifuge kerosene
equivalent test (CKE), although this procedure has been discontinued by
AASHTO (AASHTO, 2000a).
3.1 Centrifuge Kerosene Equivalent (CKE) Test
The centrifuge kerosene Equivalent (CKE) test, used to estimate optimum
asphalt content, involves three basic steps (ASTM, 2000; AASHTO, 2000;
Roberts et al., 1996):
2
HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H. Abed Ali
1. Determine the Centrifuge kerosene Equivalent (CKE).
A small fine aggregate sample (passing the 4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve) is first
weighed then submerged in kerosene. Once the sample is saturated with
kerosene it is placed in a centrifuge for 2 minutes to remove excess
kerosene, and then reweighed. The difference in these weights gives an
estimate of the fine aggregate's ability to absorb asphalt binder.
WW − WD
CKE = × 100
WD

where: CKE = Centrifuge Kerosene Equivalent

WW = Sample wet weight (after running in the centrifuge)

WD = Sample dry weight (before submerging it in kerosene)

Determine the Coarse Aggregate Surface Capacity.

A small coarse aggregate sample (passing the 9.5 mm (0.375 inch) sieve
but retained on the 4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve) is first weighed then
submerged in SAE 10 oil for 5 minutes. The sample is then drained and
placed in an oven for 15 minutes after which it is reweighed. The
difference in these weights gives an estimate of the coarse aggregate's
ability to absorb asphalt binder.

WW − WD
Percent Oil Held = × 100
WD

where: WW = Sample wet weight (after heated in the oven)

WD = Sample dry weight (before submerging it in oil)

3. Estimate the Optimum Asphalt Content.

Results from the first two steps are corrected for aggregate specific gravity
then entered on a chart to determine the percent oil recommended for an
asphalt cutback (specific cutback types referenced are RC-250, MC-250
and SC-250). This percent oil is then corrected for the increased viscosity
of the HMA asphalt binder used.
The standard CKE tests are:
• AASHTO T 270: Centrifuge Kerosene Equivalent and Approximate
Bitumen Ratio (Discontinued)
• ASTM D 5148: Centrifuge Kerosene Equivalent

3
HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H. Abed Ali
3.2 Sample Asphalt Binder Contents
Based on the results of the CKE test, samples are typically prepared with
the following asphalt binder contents (Roberts et al., 1996):
• The value determined by the CKE test
• 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 percent above the CKE value (at least one set of
specimens should have enough asphalt binder to flush after compaction)
3.3 Compaction with the California Kneading Compactor
Each sample is then heated to the anticipated compaction temperature and
compacted with the California kneading compactor (see Figure 1), a device
that applies pressure to a sample through a hydraulically operated tamper
foot. Key parameters of the California kneading compactor are:
• Sample size=102 mm (4-inch) diameter cylinder approximately 64 mm
(2.5 inches) in height (corrections can be made for different sample
heights)
• Tamper foot = Shield-shaped with an area of 20 cm2 (3.1 in2)
• Compaction pressure = Ranges from 2.4 to 3.4 MPa (350 to 500 psi)
• Number of blows = 150 (plus any preparatory blows at 1.7 MPa (250 psi) )
• Simulation method = the tamper foot strikes the sample on the top near
the edge. The base rotates 1/6 of a revolution after each blow. This helps
achieve a sample particle orientation that is somewhat like that achieved in
the field after roller compaction
• 0.5 and 1.0 percent below the CKE value
The standard kneading compactor sample preparation procedure is:
• AASHTO T 247 and ASTM D 1561: Preparation of Test Specimens of
Bituminous Mixtures by Means of the California Kneading Compactor.

4
HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H. Abed Ali
4 The Hveem Stabilometer and Cohesiometer
The Hveem stabilometer (see Figure 2) provides the key performance prediction
measure for the Hveem mix design method (TRB, 2000). The stabilometer
measures the resistance to deformation of a compacted HMA sample by
measuring the lateral pressure developed from applying a vertical load
(AASHTO, 2000). The cohesiometer then measures the cohesion of the same
compacted HMA sample by measuring the forces required to break or bend the
sample as a cantilevered beam (AASHTO, 2000).
4.1 Hveem Stabilometer
The stabilometer, a closed-system triaxial test, applies an increasing load to the
top of the sample at a predetermined rate. As the load increases, the lateral
pressure is read at specified intervals. The resulting stabilometer value is
calculated as:
22.2
S=
 Ph × D 
  − 0.222
 v
P − Ph 

where: S = stabilometer value

Pv = vertical pressure - typically 2800 kPa (400 psi)

Ph = horizontal pressure corresponding to P v in kPa (psi)

D = displacement of specimen in 0.25 mm (0.01 inch) units

Note: a correction to the stabilometer value is made if the

sample height is not 64 mm (2.5 inches)

With this equation, the stabilometer value can range from 0 to 90. Zero would
represent a condition where lateral pressure is equal to vertical pressure (e.g., a
liquid). Ninety would represent a condition where there is no lateral pressure no
matter what the vertical pressure is (e.g., an incompressible solid). Table 1 shows
typical stabilometer criteria.

Table 1: Typical Hveem Design Criteria (from Asphalt Institute, 1979)

Light Traffic Medium Traffic Heavy Traffic

Mix Criteria
(< 104 ESALs) (104 - 106 ESALs) (> 106 ESALs)
Stabilometer Value 30 35 37
Air Voids Approximately 4 percent

5
HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H. Abed Ali
4.2 Hveem Cohesiometer
The cohesiometer (see Figures 3 and 4) attempts to measure cohesive strength
across the diameter of a sample on which the stability test had already been
conducted. This is intended to provide some prediction about the ability of the
HMA sample to resist raveling under traffic loading. Basically the sample is bent
as a cantilevered beam until it fails. Although it was useful for oil mixes, HMAs
tend to have large cohesion values as measured by the cohesiometer and rarely,
if ever, fail. As a result, the cohesiometer has fallen out of favor and is rarely
used (Roberts et al., 1996).
C = (0.20 H + 0.044 H 2 )
L
W
where: C = cohesiometer value

L = weight of shot (grams)

W = diameter or width of specimen (inches)

H = height of specimen (inches)

Basic WSDOT Hveem mix design specifications are shown in the table below. This
table does not list all specifications. These specifications are taken from the
WSDOT 2002 Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge and Municipal Construction (M
41-10).
Basic WSDOT Hveem Mix Design Specifications

5 Density and Voids Analysis

All mix design methods use density and voids to determine basic HMA physical
characteristics. Two different measures of densities are typically taken:
1. Bulk specific gravity (G mb ).
2. Theoretical maximum specific gravity (TMD, G mm ).
These densities are then used to calculate the volumetric parameters of the
HMA. Measured void expressions are usually:
• Air voids (V a ), sometimes expressed as voids in the total mix (VTM)
• Voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA)
• Voids filled with asphalt (VFA)
Generally, these values must meet local or State criteria

6
HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H. Abed Ali
6 Selection of Optimum Asphalt Binder Content
The optimum asphalt binder content is finally selected based on the combined
results of the stabilometer test, density analysis and void analysis. As a first step, it
is prudent to plot these test results versus asphalt binder content in order to check
them for possible testing errors. Typically, these plots should exhibit the following
characteristics:
• Hveem stability should decrease with increasing asphalt binder content.
• Density will generally increase with increasing asphalt content. The curve
may or may not reach a maximum.
• Percent air voids should decrease with increasing asphalt content.

Recall that the Hveem mix design method strives to select the asphalt content
resulting in the highest durability without falling below a minimum allowable
stability. The "pyramid" method is a common method of selecting the optimum
asphalt binder content (see Figure 5).

7
HMA Designed by Hveem Method Dr. Abdulhaq H. Abed Ali

Advantages of Method
The Hveem method is based on three basic assumptions:
1. Optimum asphalt binder content is dependent upon aggregate surface area and
absorption.
2. Stability is a function of aggregate particle friction and mix cohesion.
3. HMA durability increases with more asphalt binder.
The two biggest differentiating aspects of the Hveem method when compared to
other mix design methods are the kneading compactor and the Hveem
stabilometer. The kneading compactor uses a special rotating base to simulate
actual field compaction while the stabilometer measures HMA deformation under
load. The design asphalt content is selected as that asphalt content resulting in the
highest durability without going below a minimum allowable stability.
Disadvantages:
1. Equipment more expensive and not portable.
2. Some volumetric properties not emphasized.
3. Asphalt content selection very subjective.