Construction & quality
Slide 1
HMA Mix Type Selection
1
Three basic mixture types are
discussed, each have their own
benefits and structural or functional
usage
Slide 2
2
DENSE-GRADED
Most common type
Do you know what the gradation chart
look like for this mixture?
There are different size aggregates
(wide range) represented in the mix.
Asphalt contents are in the range of 4.5
to 6 percent
Air voids are typically 5 to 7 percent
Slide 3
3GAP-GRADED
Got popular in recent decades.
Do you know what the gradation chart
look like for this mixture?
There is a gap in the gradation, that is
some large aggregates and some finer
ones, mid-size range is mostly missing.
What are the benefits? Structurally is
good and allows for higher addition of
binder especially when modified. Can
provide some permeability as well
Asphalt contents are in the range of 6
to 7 or 8 percent (the higher percentage
when polymer or rubber modified)
Air voids are typically in the 7 percent
range, have seen values with 9 percent.
More permeable but you want to stay
at the 7-8 percent range for best
performance
Slide 4
4
OPEN-GRADED
Got popular and widely used as a
surface mixture course.
Do you know what the gradation chart
look like for this mixture?
The gradation of the aggregates are
pretty much in a very narrow band
with similar sizes, very little fines.
What are the benefits? Does it provide
structural support? How about the
functional benefits? It also allows for
higher binder content and can provide
some great permeability and therefore
reduce the standing water on the
surface.
Typically used with modified binders
such as polymers and rubbter. Asphalt
contents are in the range of 8 to 9.5
percent (the higher percentage when
polymer or rubber modified)
Air voids are typically in the 18 to 20
percent range.
Slide 5 Highway Noise
5
Slide 6 Highway Safety
• Increase highway safety measures by increasing driver visibility, reducing standing surface water, and improving skid resistance.
6
Slide 7
7
Slide 8
8
Slide 9
9
Slide 10
10
Slide 11
11
Slide 12
HMA MATERIALS
12
Slide 13 Background
• First US hot mix asphalt (HMA) constructed in 1870’s – Pennsylvania Ave.
– Used naturally occurring asphalt from surface of lake on Island of Trinidad
• Two sources – Island of Trinidad
– Bermudez, Venezuela
Slide 14
14
Slide 15
15
Slide 16 Petroleum-Based Asphalts
• Asphalt is waste product from refinery processing of crude oil – Sometimes called the “bottom of the barrel”
• Properties depend on: – Refinery operations
– crude source
16
Gasoline
Kerosene
Lt. Gas Oil
Diesel
Motor Oils
Asphalt
Barrel of Crude Oil
Slide 17 Asphalt Cement Components
• Asphaltenes – Large, discrete solid inclusions (black)
– High viscosity component
• Resins – Semi-solid or solid at room temperature
• Fluid when heated
• Brittle when cold
• Oils – Colorless liquid
– Soluble in most solvents
– Allows asphalt to flow
17
Slide 18 Refinery Operation
18
FIELD STORAGE
PUMPING STATION
LIGHT DISTILLATE
HEAVY DISTILLATE
PROCESS UNIT
ASPHALT CEMENTS
FOR PROCESSING INTO
EMULSIFIED AND
CUTBACK ASPHALTS
STILL
AIR
AIR BLOWN ASPHALT
STORAGE
TOWER DISTILLATION REFINERY
RESIDUUM
OR
GAS
PETROLEUM
SAND AND WATER
CONDENSERS AND
COOLERS
TUBE HEATER
MEDIUM DISTILLATE
Slide 19 Types
• Asphalt cements
• Cutbacks
• Emulsions
19
.
Slide 20 Early Specifications
• Lake Asphalts – Appearance
– Solubility in carbon disulfide
• Petroleum asphalts (early 1900’s) – Consistency
• Chewing
• Penetration machine – Measure consistency
Slide 21 Binder Tests
• Conventional Tests
21
Superpave /
SHRP Tests
Penetration AASHTO T49-93
Softening Point AASHTO T53-92
Rotational Viscosity AASHTO TP48
Dynamic Shear
Rheometer (DSR):
AASHTO PP1
Bending Beam Rheometer
(BBR): AASHTO TP1-98
Slide 22 Penetration Testing • Sewing machine needle
• Specified load, time, temperature
100 g
Initial
Penetration in 0.1 mm
After 5 seconds
The penetration test started out using a
No. 2 sewing machine needle mounted
on a shaft for a total mass of 100 g.
This needle was allowed to sink into
(penetrate) a container of asphalt
cement at room temperature (25 oC)
for 5 seconds. The consistency
(stiffness) of a given asphalt was
reported as the depth in tenths of a
millimeter (dmm) that the needle
penetrated the asphalt.
Slide 23 Penetration Grades
40-50, 60-70, 85-100
120-150, 200-300
# - #
Maximum penetration
Minimum penetration
23
Slide 24
Viscosity Graded Specifications
24
Slide 25 AC Grades
AC-2.5, AC-5, AC-10
AC-20, AC-30, AC-40
AC- # 1/100 of midpoint of the allowable viscosity range.
AC-20, viscosity range 1,600 to 2,400 poises.
Asphalt cement
25
Slide 26 AR Grades
AR-10, AR-20, AR-40
AR-80, AR-160
AR- # 1/100 of midpoint of viscosity after aging.
AR-40, viscosity range 3,000 to 5,000 poises.
Aged residue
26
Slide 27 RTFO
27
Slide 28 Flash Point
• Safety test
• Minimum temperature
with sufficient vapors to
“flash” when exposed to
flame
Slide 29 Solubility (Purity)
29
A sample of asphalt binder is dissolved
in a solvent then filtered through a
Gooch crucible mounted in the top of a
vacuum flask. The amount of
insoluble material retained on the filter
represents the impurities in the asphalt
binder.
Slide 30 Testing
Absolute viscosity
– U-shaped tube with timing marks & filled with asphalt
– Placed in 60C bath
– Vacuum used to pull asphalt through tube
– Time to pass marks
– Viscosity in Pa s (Poise)
At the 60 oC test temperature, the tube
is charged at 135 oC and then placed in
the test temperature bath. The tube
temperature is allowed to equalize
with the bath temperature, a vacuum
line is attached to the top of the small
diameter tube, and the flow is started.
The time it takes the asphalt to flow
past the timing marks times the tube
calibration constant gives the viscosity
of the asphalt in Poise.
Slide 31 Rotational Viscometer
Measures viscosity
• Ability to pump binder at asphalt plant
• Establish temperature versus viscosity relationship
Slide 32 Rotational Viscometer
spindle
torque
sample
sample
chamber
32
Slide 33 Temperature Susceptibility
Viscosity
33
Temperature
Too brittle (Thermal cracking)
Too soft (Rutting)
Optimum range
Of viscosity
Slide 34 Viscosity-Temperature Relationship
34
Viscosity - Temperature Relationship (Original Binder)
ARAC PG 58-28: y = -2.4795x + 7.6903
R 2 = 0.989
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
2.70 2.75 2.80 2.85 2.90 2.95
Log (Temp, o Rankine)
L o g (
L o g v
is c o si
ty , cP
)
(41) (103) (171) (248) (335) (432)(deg F)
Pen
59, 77oF
Soft. Point
139oF
Brookfield Viscosity
200-350oF
Slide 35 Mixing/Compaction Temps
35
.1
.2
.3
.5
1
10
5
100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200
Temperature, C
Viscosity, Pa s
Compaction Range
Mixing Range
To establish mixing and compaction
temperatures it is necessary to develop
a temperature viscosity chart. This can
be done by determining the viscosity at
two different temperatures - generally
135 C and 165 C. These two
viscosities are then plotted on the
graph above and a straight line is
drawn between the two points.
The desired viscosity range for mixing
is between 0.15 and 0.19 Pa-s and
0.25 and 0.31 Pa-s for compaction.
Appropriate mixing and compaction
temperatures are selected as the
temperature where these viscosity
requirements are met. This
information can be obtained from the
suppliers. In many DOTs this
information is developed during the
mix design process.
If using modified binders - it is
recommended that you should contact
the supplier to determine the mixing
and compaction temperatures.
Slide 36
40
50
60
70 85
100
120
150 200
300
Penetration Grades
AC 40
AC 20
AC 10
AC 5
AC 2.5
100
50
10
5
V is
c o
s it
y ,
6 0
C (
1 4
0 F
)
AR 16000
AR 8000
AR 4000
AR 2000
AR 1000
General Comparison
This figure provides a general
comparison of the various traditional
specifications. While there is no direct
relationship between the
specifications, there is a general
relationship between stiffness and
viscosity. Higher penetration numbers
correspond with lower viscosities.
Slide 37 New Superpave Binder Specifications
Intended to improve pavement performance by
reducing the potential to:
Permanent deformation
Fatigue cracking
Low-temperature cracking
Excessive aging from volatilization
Pumping and handling
37
Slide 38 Test Equipment Performance Property
Rotational Viscometer
Dynamic Shear
Rheometer
Bending Beam Rheometer
Direct Tension
Tester
Handling Pumping
Permanent Deformation
Fatigue Cracking
Thermal Cracking
Flow
Rutting
Structural
Cracking
Low Temp.
Cracking
Slide 39 Dynamic Shear Rheometer
–Tests complex shear
modulus of binders
–measures the resistance
to shear deformation in
the linear visco-elastic
range
Chapter 9: Asphalt
height (h)
radius (r)
torque (T)
deflection angle (Q)
Slide 40 Dynamic Shear Rheometer
Applied Stress
Fixed Plate
Asphalt
Oscillating
Plate
B C A
Position of
Oscillating Plate
A
B
A
C
A
Time
1 cycle
40
Slide 41
41
Elastic Viscous
Time A
A
B
C
Strain
Strain in-phase
d = 0o Strain out-of-phase
d = 90o
If a material is elastic, then the strain
response will be in-phase with the
applied stress. If a material is viscous,
then the response will be 90o out of
phase.
Slide 42
42
Viscous Modulus, G”
Storage Modulus, G’
Complex Modulus, G*
d
Complex Modulus is the vector sum of the
storage and viscous modulus
When a material has both an elastic
and viscous component to its behavior,
this type of testing can sort out the
contribution of each to the total
response. Delta is the phase angle, that
is, the degrees that the strain response
is out of phase with the applied stress.
The complex modulus, G*, is the
vector sum (Pythagorean's theorem).
If delta is 0, the G* equals the storage
modulus. In other words, the response
is all elastic. If delta is 90o, then the
response is all viscous (G* = viscous
component).
Slide 43 Bending Beam Rheometer
–Tests low temperature stiffness properties of binders
– Measures midpoint deflection of a simply supported
beam
Slide 44 Bending Beam Rheometer
• S(t) = P L3
44
4 b h3 d (t)
Where:
S(t) = creep stiffness (M Pa) at time, t
P = applied constant load, N
L = distance between beam supports (102 mm)
b = beam width, 12.5 mm
h = beam thickness, 6.25 mm
d(t) = deflection (mm) at time, t
The equation used to determine the
change in stiffness with time is that for
a simply supported beam. The
geometry parameters remain constant
throughout the test. The only values
that change are the deformation of the
beam due to the static load and the
stiffness calculated using this time-
dependent deformation.
Slide 45 Direct Tension
• thermal
cracking
properties
FHWA
Slide 46 Direct Tension Tester
L
Load
L+ L
L
failure strain (f ) =
effective length (L )
change in length ( L)
eL
e
46
f
stress
strain
f
Slide 47 Summary
47
Fatigue
CrackingRutting
RTFO
Short Term AgingNo aging
Construction
[RV] [DSR]
Low Temp
Cracking
[BBR]
[DTT]
PAV
Long Term Aging
This figure summarizes the testing
required for the PG asphalt binder
specification.
Slide 48
48
PAV Components
Bottom of
pressure
aging
vessel
Rack of individual
pans
(50g of asphalt /
pan)
Vessel Lid Components
This photograph provides an example
of an older type of pressure aging
vessel equipment. This old version is
shown because it clearly shows all of
the key elements in all PAV units (old
or new). There are currently several
makes and models of PAV ovens
available.
Slide 49 PG 46 PG 52 PG 58 PG 64 PG 70 PG 76 PG 82
(Rotational Viscosity) RV
90 90 100 100 100 (110) 100 (110) 110 (110)
(Flash Point) FP
46 52 58 64 70 76 82
46 52 58 64 70 76 82
(ROLLING THIN FILM OVEN) (ROLLING THIN FILM OVEN) RTFO RTFO Mass Loss Mass Loss << 1.00 % 1.00 %
(Direct Tension) DT
(Bending Beam Rheometer) BBR Physical Hardening
28
-34 -40 -46 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -46 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -40 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 -10 -16 -22 -28 -34
Avg 7-day Max, oC
1-day Min, oC
(PRESSURE AGING VESSEL) (PRESSURE AGING VESSEL) PAVPAV
ORIGINALORIGINAL
< 5000 kPa
> 2.20 kPa
S < 300 MPa m > 0.300
Report Value
> 1.00 %
20 Hours, 2.07 MPa
10 7 4 25 22 19 16 13 10 7 25 22 19 16 13 31 28 25 22 19 16 34 31 28 25 22 19 37 34 31 28 25 40 37 34 31
(Dynamic Shear Rheometer) DSR G* sin d
( Bending Beam Rheometer) BBR “S” Stiffness & “m”- value
-24 -30 -36 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 0 -6 -12 -18 -24
-24 -30 -36 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 0 -6 -12 -18 -24 0 -6 -12 -18 -24
(Dynamic Shear Rheometer) DSR G*/sin d
(Dynamic Shear Rheometer) DSR G*/sin d
< 3 Pa.s @ 135 oC
> 230 oC
CEC RWM
58 64
Test Temperature
Changes
Spec Requirement
Remains Constant
> 1.00 kPa
49
Slide 50 Superpave Asphalt Binders
• Grading System and Selection Based Primarily on Climate
50
PG 58-22
Performance
Grade
Average 7-day
max pavement
design temp
Min pavement
design temp
Slide 51
6 degree increments
Slide 52 Aggregates
52
Slide 53 Excavation
53
* Natural sands and gravels - Underwater sources
+ Rivers & lakes Barge-mounted dredges, draglines,
scoop, conveyors, or pumps
+ Relatively clean
- Land sources
+ Gravel or sand pits Bucket loader
Slide 54 Sizing
54
Stockpiling
Slide 55 Aggregate Properties
• Shape and texture • Soundness • Toughness • Absorption • Specific gravity • Strength and modulus • Gradation • Deleterious materials and
cleanness • Alkaline reactivity • Affinity for asphalt
Slide 56
Chapter 5: Aggregates
angular rounded flaky
elongated flaky & elongated
Slide 57 Coarse Aggregates Particle Shape & Surface Texture Evaluation
• Texture and angularity –
Fractured faces
visual inspection to determine the percent of
aggregates with:
• no fractured faces
• % one fractured face
• % more than one fractured face
Slide 58
Common Aggregate Properties
Toughness
Soundness
Deleterious Materials
Gradation
58
Source aggregate properties are those
properties which are measured for the
aggregate as-stockpiled and are
commonly used for aggregate source
acceptance control. These properties
are toughness, soundness, and
deleterious materials. In addition, the
gradations of individual stockpiles
may be evaluated.
Slide 59 LA Abrasion Test
59
- Approx. 10% loss for extremely hard igneous rocks - Approx. 60% loss for soft limestones and sandstones
Rotate for 500 revolutions at 30 to 33 rpm’s
This photo shows the equipment
needed for the Los Angeles abrasion
test. The panel on the side of the drum
is removed and the aggregate and steel
balls are placed inside. The panel is
replaced and the drum rotated the
prescribed number of cycles.
Examples of typical values are noted at
the bottom of this photo.
Slide 60
60
Soundness
* Estimates resistance to weathering .
* Simulates freeze/thaw action by successively wetting
and drying aggregate in sodium sulfate or magnesium
sulfate solution
+ One immersion and drying is considered one
cycle
* Result is total percent loss over various sieve intervals
for a prescribed number of cycles
+ Max. loss values typically range from
10 to 20%per 5 cycles
Weathering of aggregates is simulated
by repeated immersion in saturated
solutions of either sodium or
magnesium sulfate followed by oven
drying. The internal expansive force
from the expansion of the rehydration
of the soluble salts upon re-immersion
simulates freeze-thaw damage. The
difference between the original and
final mass, expressed as a percent of
the original mass is the percent loss. A
weighted percentage is used when
several fractions are tested. The
soundness of both fine (passing the
4.75 mm sieve) and coarse aggregate
can be determined using this test.
Slide 61 Soundness
61
Before After
Damage to the aggregate after a
number of wet-dry cycles can be seen
by visual examination as well as in the
change in gradation.
Slide 62
Chapter 5: Aggregates
Slide 63
63
Clay Lumps and Friable Particles
ASTM C 142
Dries a given mass of agg., then soaks for 24 hr., and each particle is rubbed. A washed
sieve is then performed over several screens,
the aggregate dried, and the percent loss is
reported as the % clay or friable particles.
Deleterious material is the mass
percent of contaminants such as clay
lumps, shale, wood, mica, and coal in
the blended aggregate. This test can
also be performed for both fine and
coarse aggregates. The mass
percentage of the material lost during a
wet sieve is reported as the percent of
clay lumps and friable particles.
Slide 64 Gradations
64
• Aggregate Gradation
– The distribution of particle sizes expressed as
a percent of total weight.
– Determined by sieve analysis
Slide 65
65
Gradations - Computation
Sieve Mass Cumulative
Retained Mass Retained % Retained % Passing
9.5
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.60
0.30
0.15
0.075
Pan
0.0
6.5
127.4
103.4
72.8
64.2
60.0
83.0
22.4
0.0
6.5
133.9
237.3
310.1
374.3
434.3
517.3
539.7
0.0
1.2
24.8
44.0
57.5
69.4
80.5
95.8
100.0
100.0
98.9
75.2
56.0
42.6
30.6
19.5
4.2
0.0
This is an example of the calculations
necessary for a sieve analysis. What is
not shown is that the 22.4 g of material
in the pan is the sum of the mass which
was washed past the0.075 mm sieve in
the first part and the mass of the
aggregate retained in the pan after the
mechanical sieve analysis. This is an
important point as the final gradation
reported needs to reflect the true
percentage of fractions in the stockpile
which will be used during
construction.
Slide 66 Aggregate Size Definitions
• Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size –one size larger than the first sieve to retain
more than 10%
• Maximum Aggregate Size –one size larger than nominal maximum size
66
100 100 90 72 65 48 36 22 15 9 4
100 99 89 72 65 48 36 22 15 9 4
For HMA pavements these are the
definitions for gradations.
Slide 67
Chapter 5: Aggregates
Slide 68
Chapter 5: Aggregates
Types of Gradation
Slide 69 Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete (HMA) Mix Designs
• Objective:
– Develop an economical blend of aggregates and asphalt that meet design requirements
• Historical mix design methods
– Marshall
– Hveem
• New
– Superpave gyratory
69
Slide 70 Requirements in Common
• Sufficient asphalt to ensure a durable pavement
• Sufficient stability under traffic loads
• Sufficient air voids
– Upper limit to prevent excessive environmental damage
– Lower limit to allow room for initial densification due to traffic
• Sufficient workability
70
Slide 71 HMA Volumetric Terms
• Bulk specific gravity (BSG) of compacted HMA
• Maximum specific gravity
• Air voids
• Effective specific gravity of aggregate
• Voids in mineral aggregate, VMA
• Voids filled with asphalt, VFA
Slide 72 BSG of Compacted HMA • AC mixed with agg. and compacted into sample
Mass agg. and AC
Vol. agg., AC, air voids
Gmb =
Slide 73 Maximum Specific Gravity
Loose (uncompacted) mixture
Mass agg. and AC
Vol. agg. and AC
Gmm =
Slide 74 Percent Air Voids Calculated using both specific gravities
Gmb
Gmm Air voids = ( 1 - ) 100
Mass agg + AC
Vol. agg, AC, Air Voids
Mass agg + AC
Vol. agg, AC
=
Vol. agg, AC
Vol. agg, AC, Air Voids
Slide 75
Effective volume = volume of solid aggregate particle +
volume of surface voids not filled with asphalt
Gse = Mass, dry
Effective Specific Gravity
Effective Volume
Absorbed asphalt
Vol. of water-perm. voids
not filled with asphalt
Surface Voids
Solid Agg.
Particle
Slide 76 Effective Specific Gravity
Gse is an aggregate property
Gse = 100 - Pb
100 - Pb
Gmm Gb
Slide 77 Voids in Mineral Aggregate
VMA is an indication of film thickness on
the surface of the aggregate
VMA = 100 - Gmb Ps
Gsb
Slide 78 Volumetric Abbreviations
• Va - Air voids
• VMA - Voids Mineral Aggregate
• Pbe - Effective Asphalt Content
• VFA - Voids filled with Asphalt
• Vba - Volume of absorbed asphalt
78
Slide 79 Volumetric Terms Continued
• Gsb - Bulk Specific Gravity of Stone
• Gse - Effective Specific Gravity of Stone
• Gb - Bulk Specific Gravity of Asphalt
• Gmb - Bulk Specific Gravity of Mix
• Gmm - Theoretical Maximum Specific
Gravity of Mixture
79
Slide 80 Gmb = 2.329
air
asphalt
Gb = 1.015
Pb = 5% by mix
aggregate
Gsb = 2.705
Gse = 2.731
absorbed asph
VOL (cm3 ) MASS (g)
1.000
Volumetric Properties - Phase Diagrams
Slide 81 air
asphalt
Gb = 1.015
aggregate
Gsb = 2.705
Gse = 2.731
absorbed asph
2.3291.000
0
0.108
0.008
0.116
2.213
0.182
VOL (cm3 ) MASS (g)
0.818
0.076
0.106 0.114
0.810
0.008
Air Voids = 7.6% Effective Asphalt Content = 4.6%
VMA = 18.2 % Absorbed Asphalt Content = 0.4%
VFA = 58.2 % Max Theo Sp Grav = 2.521
Slide 82
Chapter 5: Aggregates
Slide 83
HMA Mix Design
Marshall
Hveem
Superpave
83
Slide 84 Marshall Mix Design
• Uses impact hammer to prepare specimens
• Determine stability with Marshall stabilometer
• Uses volumetrics to select optimum asphalt content
84
Slide 85 Marshall Design Method • Advantages
– Attention on voids, strength, durability
– Inexpensive equipment
– Easy to use in process control/acceptance
• Disadvantages
– Impact method of compaction
– Does not consider shear strength
– Load perpendicular to compaction axis
85
.
Slide 86 Hveem Mix Design
• Use kneading compactor to prepare specimens
• Determine stability with Hveem stabilometer
• Visual observation, volumetrics, and stability used to select optimum asphalt content
86
Slide 87 Hveem Mix Design Method
87
Step 1
Design Series
Step 2
Flushing
Step 3
Min. Stability
Step 4
Max. AC with 4% Voids
The following steps are followed in
determining the design asphalt content:
• Step 1 - Record the four asphalt
contents used for preparing the mix
specimens. Record them in order of
increasing amount from left to right.
• Step 2 - Select from Step 1 the
three highest asphalt contents that do
not exhibit moderate or heavy flushing
and record them in step 2.
• Step 3 - Select from Step 2 the
two specimens that provide the
specified minimum stability and enter
them in step 3.
• Step 4 - Select from Step 3 the
highest asphalt content that provides at
least 4% air voids.
Slide 88 Hveem Mix Design • Advantages
– Attention to voids, strength, durability
– Kneading compaction similar to field
– Strength parameter direct indication of internal friction component of shear strength
• Disadvantages
– Equipment expensive and not easily portable
– Not wide range in stability measurements
88
Slide 89 Superpave Mix Design
• Uses gyratory compactor to prepare specimens
• Uses volumetric analysis to select optimum asphalt content
89
Slide 90 Superpave Gyratory Compactor
• Basis – Corps of Engineers
– Texas equipment
– French / Australian operational characteristics
• 150 mm diameter – up to 37.5 mm nominal size
• Height Recorded
90
?
?
?
Slide 91
91
% binder
VMA
% binder
VFA
% binder
%Gmm at Nini
% binder
%Gmm at Nmax
% binder
DP
% binder
Va
Blend 3
Selection of Design Asphalt Binder Content
Slide 92
92
4 Steps of Superpave Mix Design
1. Materials Selection 2. Design Aggregate Structure
3. Design Binder Content 4. Moisture Sensitivity
TSR
Slide 93 a) Aggregate Selection –depending on traffic level and how deep under surface
–coarse agg. angularity -- min. % crushed particles
–fine agg. angularity -- measured by unpacked air voids
(min.)
–Flat & elongated particles -- max.
–Clay content -- need small amount for bonding
–Gradation -- 0.45 power chart
• curve must pass through control points
Slide 94
b) Binder Selection based on service temps. as discussed earlier
Course Fine
Aggregate Aggregate Flat and Sand
Angularity Angularity Elongated Equivalency
Design Level (% min) (% min) (% max) (% min)
Light Traffic 55/- — — 40
Med. Traffic 75/- 40 10 40
Heavy Traffic 85/80 45 10 45
Superpave Consensus Aggregate Properties
Slide 95 c) Design Aggregate Structure
• prepare trial specimens with different aggregate gradations & asphalt contents using the gyratory compactor
• No. of gyrations is based on design high temp. & traffic volume
• Design criteria:
–Nini < 89% Gmm –Ndes = 96% Gmm –Nmax < 98% Gmm
Slide 96 0.3 30 N
ini N
des N
max
Traffic Level (106 ESAL)
<0.3 0.3 - 3 3 - 30 >30
Nini 6 7 8 9
Ndes 50 75 100 125
Nmax 75 115 160 205
Number of Gyrations at Specific Design Traffic
Levels
Slide 97
Chapter 9: Asphalt
Slide 98 Moisture Susceptibility • Stripping is loss of bond between asphalt & agg.
– several methods differing by specimen preparation, conditioning,
and strength requirements
– 2 sets of specimens: control & conditioned
– evaluate strength before and after conditioning
– Retained strength = conditioned strength / reference strength
– must have min. retained strength
Slide 99
Chapter 5: Aggregates
Slide 100 How to Improve Moisture Susceptibility
–Increase asphalt content
–Higher viscosity asphalt
–Clean aggregate of dust and clay
–Change aggregate gradation
–Add anti-stripping additives
• liquid
• portland cement or lime