Linking Balanced Mix Design to Mechanistic-Empirical Structural Design for Flexible Pavements

Balanced mix design (BMD) has emerged as a practical approach to optimizing asphalt mixture performance, while mechanistic–empirical (M–E) pavement design has become the standard for structural pavement analysis in many states. However, the two systems currently operate independently—BMD tests are not directly linked to the material properties required for M–E models. This disconnect prevents agencies from leveraging performance-based mixture data to inform structural design, limiting opportunities for optimized, long-lasting pavements. There is a need to establish direct and practical links between BMD performance test results and M–E pavement design inputs. Doing so will enable agencies to select and proportion mixtures that meet both surface and structural performance needs using a unified, data-driven framework. The objectives of this research are to identify and recommend BMD test procedures that support M–E structural design and to provide AASHTO guidelines for integrating BMD into pavement design and production workflows.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5851
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $750,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 09-76

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Khosravifar, Sadaf

• Start Date: 20250526
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Flexible pavements; Mechanistic-empirical pavement design; Mix design; Performance tests; Test procedures
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01956423
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 09-76
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 27 2025 8:33PM