Gradation Chart for Asphalt Mixes: Development
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 2
Abstract
The gradation chart approach is based on the two parameters of Fuller’s model (i.e., maximum size diameter and shape factor) which are obtained by fitting well-graded structures like those of Superpave or Covenin. ASTM mathematical definitions for gravel and sand, and Fuller’s model are used to develop an analytical expression for a gravel-to-sand ratio used here to transform gradation into a numerical that may be correlated to HMA performance parameters. The gradation chart is a Cartesian plot conformed by shape factor and maximum size diameter and thus gradations, specification bands, gravel-to-sand ratios, and response parameters can be represented. Experimental results from recent research works performed by the National Center for Asphalt Technology on the mechanical and hydraulic performance of Superpave mixes are analyzed here. Based on these analyses, the writer resolved the controversy between below the restricted zone and above the restricted zone behavior, and found evidence that gradation specification bands (based on structure and maximum size diameter) would make no sense. Instead, the writer promotes “free design” in which a designer uses available aggregate, supported by a gradation-chart approach, to meet HMA performance parameters required by pavement design.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Anderson, R. M., and Bahia, H. U. (1997). “Evaluation of aggregate gradations for asphalt mixtures using Superpave.” Transportation Research Record. 1583, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 91–97.
Asphalt Inst. (1992). “Principios de construcción de pavimentos de mezclas asfáltica en caliente.” Serie de Manuales No. 22 (MS-22S), Lexington, Ky.
ASTM. (2001). “Standards on disc.” Section four: Construction, D 2487-92. Soil and rock (I): D 420-D 5779 (CD-ROM), Vol. 04.08, West Conshohocken, Pa.
Choubane, B., Page, G. C., and Musselman, J. A. (1998). “Investigation of water permeability of coarse-graded Superpave pavements.” J. Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, 67-98.
Chowdhury, A., Grau, J. C., Button, J. W., and Little, D. N. (2001). “Effect of gradation on permanent deformation of Superpave HMA.” Presented at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Cooley, L. A., Brown, E. R., and Maghsoodlo, S. (2001). “Development of critical field permeability and pavement density values for coarse-graded Superpave pavements.” National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Rep. No. 01-03, Auburn, Ala.
Cooley, L. A., Prowell, B. D., and Brown, E. R. (2002). “Issues pertaining to the permeability characteristics of coarse-graded Superpave mixes.” National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Rep. No. 02-06, Auburn, Ala.
Devore, J. L. (1995). “Chapter 12: Simple linear regression and correlation.” Probability and statistics for engineering and the sciences, 4th Ed., Wadsworth, Belmont, Calif., 480–495.
El-Basyouny, M., and Mamlouk, M. S. (1999). “Effect of aggregate gradation on the rutting potential of Superpave mixes.” Presented at the 78th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Gudimettla, J. M., Cooley, L. A., and Brown, E. R. (2003). “Workability of hot mix asphalt.” National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Rep. No. 03-03, Auburn, Ala.
Hveem, F. N. (1941). “Gradation of mineral aggregates in dense graded bituminous mixtures.” California Highways and Public Works, 14–18.
Juárez-Badillo, E. B., and Rico-Rodríguez, A. (1975). “Capítulo v. granulometría de los suelos.” Fundamentos de la mecánica de suelos, Tomo I, 3era. Ed., Editorial Limusa, México, 97–98.
Kandhal, P. S., and Cooley, L. A. (2001). “The restricted zone in the Superpave aggregate gradation specification.” National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Rep. No. 464, National Research Board & National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
Kandhal, P. S., and Cooley, L. A. (2002). “Coarse versus fine-graded Superpave mixtures: Comparative evaluation of resistance to rutting.” National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Rep. No. 2002-02, Auburn, Ala.
Kandhal, P. S., and Mallick, R. B. (1999). “Potential of asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) to predict rutting of hot mix asphalt.” Proc., Int. Conf. of Accelerated Pavement Testing, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, Nev.
Mallick, R. B., Cooley, L. A., Teto, M. R., Bradbury, R. L., and Peabody, D. (2003). “An evaluation of factors affecting permeability of Superpave designed pavements.” National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Rep. No. 03-02. Auburn, Ala.
Marvillet, J., and Bougalt, P. (1979). “Workability of bituminous mixes. Development of a workability meter.” Proc., Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, Vol. 48-79, Denver, 91.
Muench, S. T. et al. (2003). “Washington division of transport pavement guide.” http://hotmix.ce.washington.edu/wsdot_web/ (Oct. 2004 ).
Muñoz Rojas, G., and Ruiz Rodrigo, C. (1999). “Metodología de diseño y colocación de mezclas drenantes.” 10mo. Congreso Iberolatinoamericano del asfalto, Sevilla, España.
Sanabria, J., et al. (1980). “Especificaciones, codificación y mediciones. Sector Construcción. Parte I: Carreteras.” Covenin 2000-80, Venezuelan Ministerio de Fomento.
Sánchez-Leal, F. J. (2002a). “Correlation of maximum density and optimum water content with index properties.” Unsaturated soils, Jucá de Campos and Marinho, eds., Swets & Zeitlinger, Lisse, Recife, Brazil, Vol. 2, 647–652.
Sánchez-Leal, F. J. (2002b). “Interpretation of CBR-test results under the shear-strength concept of unsaturated soil mechanics.” Unsaturated soils, Jucá de Campos and Marinho, eds., Swets & Zeitlinger, Lisse, Recife, Brazil, Vol. 2, 663–668.
Sánchez-Leal, F. J. (2003). “RAMCODES: A new approach to soil compaction quality control.” Proc., 12th Panamerican Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Culligan, Einstein, and Whittle, eds., Vol. 2, MIT, Boston, 1739–1744.
Sánchez-Leal, F. J. (2004a). “Metodología racional para el diseño de mezclas asfálticas.” 4tas. jornadas internacionales del asfalto, Memorias, Corasfaltos, Cartagena, Colombia.
Sánchez-Leal, F. J. (2004b). “Evaluación de la densificación y desempeño de mezclas Superpave construidas en la pista experimental NCAT en 2000.” XV Congreso Colombiano de Pavimentos, Memorias. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Melgar, Colombia.
University of Texas at Austin. (1996). “Superpave asphalt research program.” http://www.utexas.edu/research/superpave (Aug. 10, 2005 ).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 23, 2004
Accepted: Nov 18, 2005
Published online: Feb 1, 2007
Published in print: Feb 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Louay N. Mohammad
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.