GENERAL OBJECTIVE

TO DETERMINE, WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE

PROJECT SPECS., A COST EFFECTIVE BLEND
AND GRADATION OF AGGREGATES AND
ASPHALT CEMENT THAT WILL GIVE LONG
LASTING PERFORMANCE AS PART OF THE
PAVEMENT STRUCTURE.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

TO PRODUCE A MIX HAVING:

 Sufficient Asphalt
 Sufficient Mix Stability
 Sufficient Voids
 A Maximum Void Content
 A Sufficient Workability
 Proper Aggregate Texture and Hardness
MIX TYPE SELECTION

 Surface Course Mixtures

 Binder Course Mixtures
 Base Course Mixtures
 Sand Asphalt Mixtures
TYPICAL SURFACE COURSE GRADATIONS
TYPICAL BINDER AND BASE COURSE MIXTURES
TYPICAL OPEN-GRADED MIXTURE GRADATIONS
EVALUATION AND ADJUSTMENTS
OF MIX DESIGN
(a) Voids Low, Stability Low
(b) Voids Low, Stability Satisfactory
(c) Voids Satisfactory, Stability Low
(d) Voids High, Stability Satisfactory
(e) Voids High, Stability Low
QUALITY MANAGEMENT TESTING SYSTEM

(a) Pre-production Sampling and Testing

(b) Job-Mix Formula Verification
(c) Daily Job-Control Testing
(d) In-place Acceptance Testing
AGGREGATE SIZE FRACTIONS

(a) Coarse Aggregate

(b) Fine Aggregate
(c) Mineral Filler
PROPORTIONING AGGREGATE & ASPHALT

• Percent by Weight of Total Mixture

• Percent by Weight of Total Dry Aggregate
TESTING METHODS ASTM AASHTO
Designation Designation

(a) ASPHALT CEMENT

Penetration D5 T 49
Viscosity
Absolute D 2171 T 202
Kinematic D 2170 T 201
Flash Point D 92 T 48
Thin Film Oven Test D 1754 T 179
Rolling Thin Film
Oven Test D 2872 T 240
Ductility D 113 T 51
Solubility D 2042 T 44
Specific Gravity D 70 T 228
TESTING METHODS ASTM AASHTO
Designation Designation
(b) MINERAL AGGREGATES
Los Angeles Abrasion C 131 T 96
or C535
Unit Weight C 29 T 19
Sieve Analysis (Aggregates) C 136 T 27
Sieve Analysis (Filler) D 546 T 37
Specific Gravity (Coarse) C 127 T 85
Specific Gravity (Fine) C 128 T 84
Specific Gravity (Filler) D 854 T 133
or C 188 or T 133
Sulfate Soundness C 88 T 104
Sand Equivalent D 2419 T 176
Particle Shape D4791
TESTING METHODS ASTM AASHTO
Designation Designation

(c) HOT MIX ASPHALT

Asphalt Content (Extraction) D 2172 T 164
Asphalt Content (Nuclear) D 4125 T 287
Recovery of Asphalt D 1856 T 170
Density & Voids Analysis
Maximum Specific Gravity of
Paving Mixtures D 2041 T 209
Bulk Specific Gravity D 1188 T 166
or D 2726
PREPARATION OF TEST MIXES

WEIGHING AGGREGATES
FOR BATCH MIXES

HEATING AGGREGATE BATCHES

IN OVEN
PREPARATION OF TEST MIXES

ADDING ASPHALT CEMENT

TO HEATED AGGREGATES

MECHANICAL MIXER FOR BATCH MIXING

OF ASPHALT & AGGREGATES
 ANALYZING AGGREGATE FOR PRELIMINARY
MIX DESIGN
 AGGREGATE ANALYSIS FOR JOB MIX FORMULA
ANALYZING AGGREGATE FOR PRELIMINARY MIX
DESIGN

(1) Dry all aggregates to constant weight at 110 °C

(2) Perform washed sieve analysis and specific gravity test.
(3) Compute a blend of aggregates to produce the desired
mix gradation.
(4) Separate each dried aggregate into fractions
(5) Compute the batch weights of the sized aggregate and
filler required.
(6) Prepare mix design test specimen.
AGGREGATE ANALYSIS FOR JOB MIX FORMULA
(1) Secure representative sample from each stockpile
(2) Dry all aggregates to constant weight
(3) Perform washed sieve analysis & specific gravity test
(4) Compute the blend of aggregates
(5) Adjust the cold feeder controls
(6) Perform a washed sieve analysis on hot bin samples
(7) Compute batch weights of the sized aggregates
(8) Prepare test specimens of the design mix
(9) Adjust plant controls, if necessary
(10) Verify aggregate gradation
 TERMINOLOGY
(1) Bulk Specific Gravity, Gsb
(2) Apparent Specific Gravity, Gsa
(3) Effective Specific Gravity, Gse
(4) Voids in Mineral Aggregates,
VMA
(5) Effective Asphalt Content, Pbe
(6) Air Voids, Va
(7) Voids Filled w/ Asphalt, VFA
PROCEDURE FOR ANALYZING A COMPACTED
PAVING MIXTURE
 Measure the bulk specific gravities of the coarse and fine
aggregate
 Measure the specific gravity of the asphalt cement and of the
mineral filler
 Calculate the bulk specific gravity of the aggregate combination
in the paving mixture
 Measure the maximum specific gravity of the loose paving
mixture
 Measure the bulk specific gravity of the compacted paving
mixture
PROCEDURE FOR ANALYZING A COMPACTED
PAVING MIXTURE
 Calculate the effective specific gravity of the aggregate

 Calculate the asphalt absorption of the aggregate

 Calculate the effective asphalt content of the paving mixture

 Calculate the percent voids in the mineral aggregate in the

compacted paving mixture

 Calculate the percent air voids in the compacted paving

mixture
BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITIES OF AGGREGATE

P1 + P2 + ... + Pn
Gsb =
P1 P2 Pn
+ + ... +
G1 G2 Gn
EFFECTIVE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF AGGREGATE

Pmm - Pb
Gse =
Pmm Pb
-
Gmm Gb
MAXIMUM SPECIFIC GRAVITIES OF MIXTURES
WITH DIFFERENT ASPHALT CONTENTS

Pmm
Gmm =
Ps Pb
+
Gse Gb
ASPHALT ABSORPTION
100Gb (Gse-Gsb)
EFFECTIVE ASPHALT
Pba =
Gsb Gse
CONTENT OF MIXTURE
Pba Ps
Pbe = Pb -
100

AIR Va
Vma
Vfa
ASPHALT Vb
Vba
Vmb
Vmm
MINERAL
Vsb
AGGREGATE Vse
PERCENT VMA IN COMPACTED
PAVING MIXTURE
Gmb Ps PERCENT AIRVOIDS
VMA = 100 -
Gsb
Gmm - Gmb
Va = 100 x
Gmm

AIR Va
Vma
Vfa
ASPHALT Vb
Vba
Vmb
Vmm
MINERAL
Vsb
AGGREGATE Vse
PERCENT VFA IN COMPACTED MIXTURE

100 (VMA-Va)
VFA =
VMA

AIR Va
Vma
Vfa
ASPHALT Vb
Vba
Vmb
Vmm
MINERAL
Vsb
AGGREGATE Vse