HIGHWAY

ENGINEERING
ECT 4313
HMA Mixture Design
1-Introduction
• HMA consist of two basic materials; aggregate and asphalt
• HMA mixture design is a process to determine what aggregate
to use, what asphalt to use and what is the optimum
combination of these two ingredients to produce the best
performance of HMA
• Basically, there are 3 methods can be used in HMA mixture
design; Marshall, Hveem and SUPERPAVE
• Marshall is the most common method used in HMA mixture
design.
• 1995, SUPERPAVE method was introduced based on the
knowledge of Marshall and Hveem procedures.
• This subject will only focus on Marshall method.
2-Aggregates Gradations
• Aggregate gradations is one of the most influential
characteristics in HMA mix design
• Gradation helps determine almost every important property
including stiffness, stability, durability, permeability,
workability, fatigue resistance, and moisture damage
resistance
Dense/Well
Open Graded
Graded
Typical
Gradation
Gap Graded

Uniformly
Graded
2-Aggregates Gradations
2-Aggregates Gradations
2-Aggregates Gradations
2-Aggregates Gradations
2.1-Aggregates Gradations
(Measurement)
• Gradation usually measured by a sieve analysis.
• A sample of dry aggregate of known weight is separated
through a series of sieves with progressively smaller openings.
• Particle size distribution is then expressed as a percent
retained by weight on each sieve size.
2.1-Aggregates Gradations
(Measurement)
2.1-Aggregates Gradations
(Measurement)
2.1-Aggregates Gradations
(Measurement)
Example 1
• Let’s try problem 2.9.1
2.2-Aggregates Blending
• Aggregate blending is the process to determine the correct
proportion in blending two or more aggregates having
different gradation to obtain the required gradation
specification
• Trial and error method can be used as a guide to determine
the optimum combination of aggregates (refer to hand out
given)
2.2-Aggregates Blending
2.2-Aggregates Blending
2.2-Aggregates Blending
2.2-Aggregates Blending
2.2-Aggregates Blending
Stockpile at quarry
2.2-Aggregates Blending
Stockpile at quarry
2.2-Aggregates Blending
Stockpile at quarry
2.2-Aggregates Blending
• Example (ACW 10)
Material Stockpile A Stockpile B
% Used
Blend Target
Sieve Size
% Passing % Batch % Passing % Batch
(mm)
14.0 100 100 100
10.0 90 100 90 – 100
5.0 30 100 58 – 72
3.35 7 88 48 – 64
1.18 3 47 22 – 40
0.425 1 32 12 – 26
0.150 0 24 6 – 14
0.075 0 10 4–8
3-Job Mix Formula
• Contractor need to propose a job mix formula for each type of
mix required in the road construction.
• Job mix formula for each type of mix shall be prepared on the
basis of testing several laboratory design mix aggregate
3-Job Mix Formula
4-Volumetric Properties of
Asphalt Mix
• It is important to understand that mix design is a volumetric
properties whose purpose is to determine the volume of
bitumen/asphalt and aggregates required to produce a
mixture desired properties.
• However, measurement in the laboratory or field of the
volume of aggregates and bitumen are very difficult and
impractical.
• Therefore, to simplify the measurement problems, weights
are used instead of volume and the specific gravity is used to
convert from weight to volume.
4-Volumetric Properties of
Asphalt Mix
4-Volumetric Properties of
Asphalt Mix
• Some definitions of weight-volume relationships
Voids in Total Mix (VTM)
- The volume of air voids between the aggregate particles of a
compacted mix and expressed in percentage
Voids in Minerals Aggregate (VMA)
- Total volume of the voids spaces in between the aggregates in
compacted mix, part of which is filled with effective asphalt
binder and part with air.
Voids filled with asphalt/bitumen (VFA/VFB)
- Volume of the VMA that is filled with asphalt/bitumen
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
• Marshall method was developed by Bruce Marshall in 1930.
• Then, Marshall test procedures have been standardized by ASTM
and published as D1559.
• The main purpose of this method is to determine the binder control
required by a given blend and grading of aggregates.
• This method measures certain properties of the mixed asphalt which
may correlate with its performance on the road.
• Marshall method only applicable to HMA.
• Several steps need to follow in this method
i. Aggregate Evaluation
ii. Sample Preparation
iii. Density Determination
iv. Marshall Stability and Flow Test
v. Plotting test results and determination of OBC
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Aggregate Evaluation
• Determine aggregate physical properties; toughness, abrasion,
durability, cleanliness and particle shape
• If the aggregate is acceptable, then performed other required
tests; gradation, specific gravity and water absorption.
• Perform blending calculations to achieve the mix design
gradation.
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Important properties of aggregates used for highway
construction:
• Particle size and gradation
-it will affects the density, strength and cost of the
pavement structure.
• Hardness or resistance to wear
-aggregates used should be hard and resist wear due to
loading from compaction during construction and polishing
effects of traffic during service life.
• Durability or resistance to weathering
• Chemical stability-hydrophobic and hydrophilic aggregates
• Particles shape and surface texture-contribute to skid
resistance of the asphalt mixture
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Sample Preparation
• For each laboratory design mix gradation, 4 specimens shall be
prepared for each bitumen/asphalt content within the range
given in table 2.2 at increments of 0.5 % in accordance with
ASTM D1559 using 75 blows/face compaction standard.
• Bitumen content shall be in percentage by weight of the total
mix.
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Density and Volumetric Properties Determination
• As soon as the freshly compacted specimens have cooled to
room temperature, the bulk specific gravity of each test
specimen shall be determine (ASTM D 2726)
• Example (Refer to hand out) -2.9.4
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Marshall Stability and Flow Test
• Stability and flow value of each specimens shall then be
determined in accordance with ASTM D 1559.
• Stability test measures the maximum load can be supported
by the specimen and the maximum load achieved is reported
in kN
• Differential movement between the initial and maximum
loading is recorded as the flow (mm).
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Marshall Stability and Flow Test
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Plotting test results and determination of OBC
• After the completion of the stability and flow test, SG and
voids analysis shall be carried out for each test specimen to
determine the percentage of VFB and VTM.
• Average values of bulk SG, stability, flow, VFB and VTM
obtained shall be plotted separately against the bitumen
content and smooth curve drawn through the plotted values.
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Plotting test results and determination of OBC
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Plotting test results and determination of OBC
• OBC shall be determined by averaging four bitumen contents
from the following graph:
i. Peak of curve taken from the stability graph
ii. Peak of curve taken from the bulk SG graph
iii. VFB equals to 75% for WC and 70% for BC from the VFB
graph
iv. VTM equals to 4% for WC and 5% for BC from VTM graph
• The individual test values at the mean bitumen content shall
then be read from the plotted smooth curves and shall comply
with the design parameters
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Plotting test results and determination of OBC
5-Marshall Mix Design Method
Example-plotted the graph from the previous example,
determine the mean bitumen content
Example 2.9.5