Wasit University CE 4340 Asphalt Technology

Faculty of Engineering Fourth Year

Civil Engineering Dept. Dr. Nabeel Saleem

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Example 1:
Find the relative compaction of asphalt paving mixture with air voids = 4 % and assuming the
following:
Asphalt cement (Gs = 1.05) = 6 % by weight of total mix.
Bulk GA of combined aggregate = 2.52
Absorbed asphalt by weight of total mix = 1.41 %
Lab. Density = 2.35 gm/cm3

Solution:
PS2 = 1.41 %
PS2 = 0.01 P'S2 × PA
1.41 = 0.01 P'S2 × (100 – 6)
P'S2 = 1.5 %
1 1
P'S2 = ( − ) × Gs (asphalt) × 100 %
Bulk GA Effective GA

1 1
1.5 = ( − ) × 1.05 × 100
2.52 Effective GA

Effective GA = 2.614
100
Max. Gm = PS 100 − PS
+
Gs (asphalt) Effective GA

100
Max. Gm = 6 100 − 6 = 2.4
+
1.05 2.614

max. Gm − Actual Gm
V.T.M = × 100 %
max. Gm

2.4 − Actual Gm
4= × 100
2.4

Actual Gm = 2.304
2.304
Relative compaction = × 100 = 98 %
2.35

53
Wasit University CE 4340 Asphalt Technology
Faculty of Engineering Fourth Year
Civil Engineering Dept. Dr. Nabeel Saleem

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Example 2:
A sample of asphaltic mixture weights in water = 675 gm, asphalt content = 6 % and its air
content after compaction is 5%. The aggregate used has the following gradation:

Sieve size
1 1/2 3/8 No.4 No.40 No.200
(inch)
% passing by
100 80 65 50 30 6
weight

The specific gravities of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, mineral filler, and asphalt are: 2.63,
2.66, 2.71, 1.05 respectively. Find the weight of coarse aggregate greater than 3/8 size.
(Neglect the absorbed asphalt).

Solution:
Since, the absorbed asphalt aggregate is neglected
Effective GA = Bulk GA
100
Bulk GA = % Coarse % Fine % Filler
+ +
Gs (coarse) Gs (fine) Gs (filler)

100
Bulk GA = Effective GA = 50 44 6 = 2.648
+ +
2.63 2.66 2.71

100 − PS
Effective GA = 100 PS
−
max. Gm Gs (asphalt)

100 −6
2.648 = 100 6
−
max. Gm 1.05

Max. Gm = 2.426

2.426 − Actual Gm
5 = × 100 %
2.426

Actual Gm = 2.305

54
Wasit University CE 4340 Asphalt Technology
Faculty of Engineering Fourth Year
Civil Engineering Dept. Dr. Nabeel Saleem

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Wair
Actual Gm =
Wair − Wwater
Wair
2.305 =
Wair − 675

Wair = 1192.24 gm
Weight of coarse aggregate greater than 3/8 size =
100 −65
× 1192.24 = 417.284 gm
100

Example 3:
Asphalt pavement is constructed using 5 % asphalt (Gs = 1.03) by weight of total mix, with
(effective GA = 2.68), the core from it has density = 2.39 gm/cm3. Determine the content of
air voids in total mix (V.T.M) and voids in mineral aggregate (V.M.A) in this pavement.
(Assume non-absorbent aggregate).

Solution:
Since, non-absorbent aggregate
Effective GA = Bulk GA = 2.68
100
Max. Gm = PS 100 − PS
+
Gs (asphalt) Effective GA

100
Max. Gm = 5 100 −5 = 2.481
+
1.03 2.68

max. Gm − Actual Gm
V.T.M = × 100 %
max. Gm

2.481 − 2.39
V.T.M = × 100 % = 3.7 %
2.481

Actual Gm × PA
V.M.A = 100 −
Bulk GA

2.39 × 95
V.M.A = 100 − = 15.3 %
2.68

55
Wasit University CE 4340 Asphalt Technology
Faculty of Engineering Fourth Year
Civil Engineering Dept. Dr. Nabeel Saleem

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Example 4:
The table below lists data used in obtaining a mix design for an asphalt concrete paving
mixture. If the maximum and actual specific gravities of the mixture are 2.41 and 2.35,
respectively, determine:
1. Bulk specific gravity of aggregate
2. The absorbed asphalt
3. The effective asphalt
4. The percent of voids in mineral aggregate (V.M.A)
5. The percent of voids filled with asphalt (V.F.A)

Material Specific gravity Proportion (%)

Asphalt cement 1.02 6.4
Coarse aggregate 2.510 52.35
Fine aggregate 2.740 33.45
Filler 2.690 7.8

Solution:
Summation of aggregates = 52.35 + 33.45 + 7.8 =93.6%
⸫ we should correct for aggregates
Coarse aggregate:
100 93.6
=
𝑋1 52.35
X1 = 55.93%
Fine aggregate:
100 93.6
=
𝑋2 33.45
X2 = 35.74%
Filler:
100 93.6
=
𝑋3 7.8
X3 = 8.33%
Summation of agg. = 55.93 + 35.74 + 8.33 = 100 %

56
Wasit University CE 4340 Asphalt Technology
Faculty of Engineering Fourth Year
Civil Engineering Dept. Dr. Nabeel Saleem

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1.
100
Bulk GA = % Coarse % Fine % Filler
+ +
Gs (coarse) Gs (fine) Gs (filler)

100
Bulk GA = 55.93 35.74 8.33 = 2.603
+ +
2.510 2.740 2.690
2.
100 − PS
Effective GA = 100 PS
−
max. Gm Gs (asphalt)

100 −6.4
Effective GA = 100 6.4 = 2.658
2.41
− 1.02

Absorbed Asphalt (% by weight of aggregate), (P'S2)

1 1
P'S2 = ( − ) × Gs (asphalt) × 100 %
Bulk GA Effective GA
1 1
P'S2 = ( − ) × 1.02 × 100 % = 0.81%
2.603 2.658
Absorbed Asphalt (% by weight of total mix), (PS2)
PS2 = 0.01 P'S2 × PA
PS2 = 0.01 × 0.81 × 93.6 = 0.76%
3.
Effective asphalt (% by weight of total mix), (PS1)
PS1 = PS – PS2
PS1 = 6.4 – 0.76 = 5.64%

4.
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑚 × 𝑃𝐴
V.M.A = 100 − 𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝐺𝐴

2.35 × 93.6
V.M.A = 100 − = 15.5%
2.603

5.
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑚 × 𝑃𝑆1
V.F.A = 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐺 × 100 %
𝑚 × 𝑃𝑆1 + 𝐺𝑠 (𝑎𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑡) × % 𝑉.𝑇.𝑀

57
Wasit University CE 4340 Asphalt Technology
Faculty of Engineering Fourth Year
Civil Engineering Dept. Dr. Nabeel Saleem

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𝑚𝑎𝑥. 𝐺𝑚 − 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑚
V.T.M = × 100 %
𝑚𝑎𝑥. 𝐺𝑚

2.41 − 2.35
V.T.M = × 100 % = 2.5%
2.41

2.35 × 5.64
V.F.A = 2.35 × 5.64+1.02 × 2.5 × 100 % = 83.9%

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