Perform Better With Balanced Mix Design

Zameer Syed
Director of Marketing,
Cooper Research Technology

The original intention of the Superpave mix design method was to test trial mix designs with performance tests similar to what the Hveem method does with the stabilometer, or the Marshall method does with the stability and flow tests, but the flow time and dynamic modulus developed for the SPT were considered too complicated for routine use. 

As a result, the Superpave mix design system was implemented only with volumetrics. Many factors have changed since the development of Superpave. These include the use of RAP, RAS, warmmix additives, polymers, rejuvenators, fibres, REOB. Often these are used in combinations. Volumetrics wasn’t designed for such complicated materials and additional tests to validate trial mixtures were required. 

Progressive DoTs looked for simple performance tests to supplement volumetrics. Typically, the first addition was the Hamburg test. In fact, Utah DOT were very early adopters of the test and purchased the first model produced by Cooper Research Technology (UK) in the 90’s. They now use the highly successful successor to this machine, produced by James Cox and Sons in Northern California. Added to many state specifications this test reduced rutting. Unfortunately, the leaner mixes which perform well in the Hamburg test are often susceptible to cracking. It is for this reason tests to investigate cracking were developed. 

Cracking was a more difficult problem to crack. Fatigue tests, such as the fourpoint bending test, developed by Carl Monismith at UC Berkley and produced by James Cox and Sons, remain relevant but cost and test length make them suitable for research only. Some professors started to look at tests and ideas used in metallurgy and fracture mechanics. They applied this thinking to asphalt mixes, using simple existing lab equipment. This led to the development of two SCB tests and DCT, which use notches, and the Overlay and IDEAL CT tests, which do not. In the past these tests would look at peak load, or load drop off v cycles in the case of the overlay. For modern asphalt mixtures knowing the strength is not enough.

The Graph 1 shows two SCB result of two identical specimens. One was aged for four hours, the other for two days. Aging has increased the peak load of one specimen but looking at its post peak slope it can be seen that the mix is brittle, suggesting failure will come more quickly once cracks begin. The post peak slope and the area under the slope are used to give a fuller picture of resistance to crack propagation.

At this moment the two most popular cracking tests are I-FIT and IDEAL-CT. Using one of these tests and the Hamburg wheel tracker manufactured by Cooper/Cox it is possible to perform a balanced mix design.

The official description of balanced mix design is:

“Asphalt mix design using performance tests on appropriately conditioned specimens that address multiple modes of distress taking into consideration mix aging, traffic, climate and location within the pavement structure.”

Dave Newcomb probably explains it best as follows:

“A balanced mix design (BMD) sets a maximum asphalt content based on the rutting criterion and a minimum asphalt content based on cracking criterion.”

James Cox & Sons based in California, [sister company of Cooper Research Technology (UK]) has developed multi-purpose loading system to perform BMD and standard mix tests with quality and precision. The Balanced Mix Design Frame, BMD 9500, provides the ultimate solution for a lab looking to perform the key new BMD tests IDEAL-CT, IDEAL-RT, I-FIT, and SCB. Additionally, it can be used to perform standard laboratory tests such as Marshall, TSR, and interlayer shear bond.

It is the market-leading load frame for laboratories that need to run balanced mix design tests.

Unique PID control lifts the machine above other screw driven machines with highly accurate speed control and provides servo control performance at a fraction of the price. Balanced Mixed Design Frame BMD9500 is able to perform IDEAL-CT ASTM, SCB AASHTO(I-FIT), IDEAL-RT ASTM, SCB ASTM (Louisiana), Tack Bond Shear AASHTO, Marshall, Leutner, and TSR.

For key BMD tests, the results are calculated on the machine. This feature removes the awkward procedure of downloading data and transferring it to a PC in order to be calculated and displayed. This also gives operators the opportunity to quickly determine whether the design of a sample mix is within spec. Of course, if required data can easily be transferred to a PC for reports or further research.

For further information,
Visit - www.aimil.com