U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| Project Information | ||
| Project ID: | FHWA-PROJ-09-0033 | |
| Project Name: | Detailed Exploration of the Locking Point Concept in Mix Design | |
| Project Status: | Active | |
| Start Date: | September 1, 2009 | |
| End Date: | February 27, 2013 | |
| Contact Information | ||
| Last Name: | Gibson | |
| First Name: | Nelson H | |
| Telephone: | 202-493-3073 | |
| E-mail: | nelson.gibson@dot.gov | |
| Office: | Office of Infrastructure Research and Development | |
| Team: | Pavement Materials Team [HRDI-10] | |
| Program: | Innovative Pavement Research and Deployment | |
| Laboratory: | Bituminous Mixtures Laboratory | |
| Project detail | ||
| Roadmap/Focus area(s): | Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap | |
| Project Description: | The project will use x-ray computed tomography and mechanical performance tests to evaluate the manner in which aggregate particles pack during mix design to assess whether there is a point where aggregates no longer pack but simply move around. This will be compared to empirical definitions of locking point, which try to define the same thing. Then contemporary performance tests will be used to quantify the performance consequences for alternate mix design practices that attempt to increase binder content and durability without sacrificing permanent deformation (rutting resistance). | |
| Goals: | The objective of this research is to recommend mix design and performance test practices to increase asphalt mixture durability based on the hypothesis that current Superpave mix design compaction levels are too high and result in lower than optimal asphalt contents. | |
| Background Information: | Since Superpave has been implemented, a portion of public agencies have gradually diverged from the standard tables of compaction effort to determine the optimum asphalt content in response to a perceived lack of asphalt binder, low durability, and crack prone mixtures, which are conversely very rut resistant. This project uses a variety of candidate | |
| Field Test: | none | |
| Product Type: | Research report Techbrief | |
| Test Methodology: | Shared materials from public agencies and comparative laboratory performance tests. | |
| Expected Benefits: | Asphalt pavements with less cracking, moisture damage, or raveling, and thus longer life. | |
| Deliverables: | Name: Mix design guidance with explicit examples. Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief Description: The first phase of the study illustrated a proof of concept that aggregate packing and locking likely can be achieved less than the established design gyration levels, but confirmation is needed. The second phase of the study then illustrated the sensitivity of rutting and cracking performance as well as compact ability when a moderate reduction in gyration level was pursued. The third phase of the study expands the number of mixtures and aggregate types evaluated in the third phase. | |
| Project Findings: | It is recommended that Agencies use the Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (currently being implemented) using confined Flow Number tests and Simplified Viscoelastic Continuum Damage fatigue tests to confirm that durability is increased and rutting is not significantly affected by a change in mix design specification. A more simplistic recommendation is to increase asphalt binder contents by 0.4% if the standard design gyration compaction levels are kept. Four mixtures studied that were standard designed to 75 gyrations indicated that compaction was effectively achieved at around 60 gyrations. These mixes were redesigned at 65 gyrations and three of the four responded well to increase durability without sacrificing significantly rutting resistance. There was no general, consistent rule and essentially every mix should be checked with performance tests if modified Superpave mix design practices are used. Two additional mixes are being added to the four primary mixes to further confirm the findings. | |
| FHWA Topics: | Roads and Bridges--Pavement and Materials | |
| TRT Terms: | Mix Design Hot Mix Asphalt Aggregates Durability Asphalt Infrastructure Pavements |
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| FHWA Disciplines: | Pavement and Materials |
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| Subject Areas: | Materials Pavements Research |
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