A balanced mix design (BMD) approach for asphalt mixtures incorporates laboratory performance tests into the mix design acceptance process. However, test selection and subsequent performance thresholds must be selected, which is no easy endeavor when considering the number of promising tests and the variation in asphalt mix designs and components between states or regions. While the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) BMD specification has been circulated for multiple years now, this article presents the approach taken by VDOT to investigate the various tests, considerations taken in selecting tests, and the establishment of performance thresholds. Data and discussion of six different performance tests encompassing durability, rutting, and cracking for 11 common Virginia mixes are presented. The performance threshold selection process is outlined. Further considerations in the final test selection process are discussed. In conclusion, the initial draft specification for BMD is provided.
WestR.RodeznoC.LeivaF.YinF.Development of a Framework for Balanced Mix Design. Final Report. Project NCHRP 20-07/Task 406. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Washington, D.C., 2018.
2.
McDanielR. S.LeahyR. B.HuberG. A.MoulthropJ. S.FarragutT.The Superpave Mix Design System: Anatomy of a Research Program. NCHRP Web-Only Document 186. Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2011, 172p. http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166871.aspx. Accessed July 31, 2018.
3.
CoxB. C.SmithB. T.HowardI. L.JamesR. S.State of Knowledge for Cantabro Testing of Dense Graded Asphalt. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 29, No. 10, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002020.
YinF.GaritaJ.TaylorA.WestR.Refining the Indirect Tensile (IDT) Nflex Factor Test to Evaluate Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures for Mix Design and Quality Assurance. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 172, 2018, pp. 396–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.03.251.
8.
WestR. C.Van WinkleC.MaghsoodlooS.DixonS.Relationships Between Simple Asphalt Mixture Cracking Tests Using Ndesign Specimens and Fatigue Cracking at FHWA’s Accelerated Loading Facility. Road Materials and Pavement Design, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2017, pp. 428–446. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2017.1389083.
9.
ZhouF.ImS.SunL.ScullionT.Development of an IDEAL Cracking Test for Asphalt Mix Design and QC/QA. Road Materials and Pavement Design, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2017, pp. 405–427. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2017.1389082.
10.
KhalidH.Perez JimenezF. K.Performance Assessment of Spanish and British Porous Asphalts. Performance and Durability of Bituminous Materials. E & FN Spon, London, 1996, pp. 139–161.
KandhalP. S.CooleyL. A.Jr.Evaluation of Permanent Deformation of Asphalt Mixtures Using Loaded Wheel Tester. National Center for Asphalt Technology, Auburn, AL, 2002.
13.
ChenC.MooreN. D.WestR. C.YinF.TaylorA. J.Evaluation and Comparison of Cracking Tests for Top-Down Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures. Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, Vol. 88, 2019, pp. 645–676.
14.
DiefenderferS. D.BowersB. F.Initial Approach to Performance (Balanced) Mix Design: The Virginia Experience. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2019. 2673: 335–345. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118823732.
DiefenderferS. D.BowersB. F.McGheeK. K.Impact of Gyration Reduction and Design Specification Changes on Volumetric Properties of Virginia Dense-Graded Asphalt Mixtures. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2018. 2672: 143–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118787940.
WalubitaL. F.FarukA. N.KoohiY.LuoR.ScullionT.LyttonR. L.The Overlay Tester (OT): Comparison with Other Crack Test Methods and Recommendations for Surrogate Crack Tests. Report FHWA/TX-13/0-6607-2. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station, TX, 2013, p. 180 https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6607-2.pdf. Accessed September 22, 2018.
