Measurement of Effective Asphalt Content: Understanding How Much Is Present

The selection of asphalt binder content is a key parameter for successful performance to resist both rutting and cracking. In the earliest time, binder content was selected visually. Marshall mixture design, developed in the 1940s, instituted the use of volumetric calculations. Initially the design method was based on total asphaltic content and did not consider that some of the asphalt binder was absorbed into the aggregate. In 1962 the Asphalt Institute added Voids in the Mineral Aggregate as a design criterion that set the design asphalt binder content based on an effective volume of asphalt on the outside of the aggregate plus the amount of asphalt binder absorbed in to the aggregate. The Marshall volumetric calculations were adopted into the Superpave method of design. Recently, interest in the cracking behaviour of asphalt mixtures has been increasing. Associated with this interest is the determination of how much effective asphalt binder content is in a mixture. This paper discusses the setting of asphalt binder content for mixtures, the relationship of asphalt binder parameters, and a method that can independently evaluate asphalt binder content. The role of aggregate specific gravity in volumetric calculations is highlighted. The method to evaluate asphalt binder content can be used during the mix design phase, as well as the construction and mixture acceptance process.

• Corporate Authors:

  Canadian Technical Asphalt Association

  ,   United States 
• Authors:
  • Huber, G
  • Pine, W
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of the Sixth-First Annual Conference of the Canadian Technical Asphalt Association (CTAA): Banff, Alberta
• Publication Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp. 315-344.
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Sixth-First Annual Conference of the Canadian Technical Asphalt Association (CTAA): Banff, Alberta

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Absorption; Aggregates; Binders; Bituminous materials; Bituminous mixtures; Conferences; Cracking; Marshall test; Mix design; Porosity; Rutting; Volumetric analysis
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ITRD Terms: 6758: Absorption; 4577: Aggregate; 4948: Binder; 4955: Bituminous materials; 4967: Bituminous mixture; 8018: Canada; 8525: Conference; 5211: Cracking; 6290: Marshall; 4714: Mix design; 5938: Porosity; 3081: Rutting (wheel); 7142: Volumetric analysis
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01647333
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TAC
• Created Date: Sep 28 2017 12:26PM