TRC1802 - Performance-Based Asphalt Mixture Design (PBD) for Arkansas

The current asphalt mixture design procedure used in Arkansas, commonly referred to as the “Superpave” procedure, is based on AASHTO M323 and AASHTO R35. This design system is based on component specifications (quality and properties of the asphalt binder and aggregates) and volumetric properties. With volumetric based design, engineering properties of asphalt mixtures are controlled only indirectly, influenced by properties of the components and proportions of each component. Performance-Based Mixture Design (PBD) includes performance tests to evaluate rutting potential, cracking potential and moisture resistance during the mixture design process. Performance tests provide a more direct evaluation of expected performance than volumetric properties. Such tests can better characterize the effect of new materials and processes (e.g. RAP, RAS, Warm-Mix) as well as changes to mix design criteria. Nationally, rutting tests are the most common performance-related test currently performed for mixture design. Comparatively few agencies have adopted tests to characterize cracking resistance. The proposed project seeks to develop/adapt and implement a 'cracking test' for asphalt mixture design, to use in conjunction with the current APA rutting test (AHTD Test Method 480) to shift mixture design in Arkansas to a performance, rather than volumetric, basis. In addition, the research will re-evaluate the effectiveness of the current method for estimating resistance to moisture damage (AHTD Test Method 455A) - and develop/adapt alternate methods as appropriate.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $354,263
• Contract Numbers:

  TRC1802

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Arkansas Department of Transportation

  P O Box 2261
  Little Rock, AR  United States  72203
• Project Managers:

  Chun, Sanghyun

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

  4190 Bell Engineering
  Civil Engineering
  Fayetteville, Arkansas  United States  72701
• Principal Investigators:

  Hall, Kevin

  Braham, Andrew

• Start Date: 20170726
• Expected Completion Date: 20221231
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Pavement design
• Subject Areas: Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01698865
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Arkansas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: TRC1802
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 14 2019 11:34AM