CE 353

TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING II
HIGHWAY MATERIALS
Soil
Aggregates (types, properties, tests)
Bituminous Material (production, types,
tests)
Portland Cement

MIX DESIGN FOR FLEXIBLE PVT.

Density Void Analysis
Marshall Mix Design
Hveem Method of Mix Design

HIGHWAY MATERIALS: SOIL

Definition: refers to all unconsolidated material in the earths crust, all
material above the bedrock. Includes:
mineral particles (gravel, sand, silt, clay)
organic material (top soil, marshes)

Classification in Highway (AASHTO & Unified)

Basic Soil Properties: (Important in Highway Design & Construction)
Moisture Content
Specific Gravity
Unit Weight
Shearing Resistance
Others: Permeability, Capillarity, Shrinkage, Swelling,
Compressibility, Elasticity

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Common Soil Types:

Grain Size Classification: Clay, Silt, Sand, Gravel, Cobble [Figure
15-1]
Mixed: Loam, Loess, Muck, Peat.

HIGHWAY MATERIALS: AGGREGATES

Definition: mineral particles of a soil specifically, granular soil group:
Coarse Agg.: retained on No.10 sieve (2mm). Stone, Gravel, Coarse
Sand.
Fine Agg.: passing No. 10 sieve. Fin Sand.
Mineral Filler: passing a 0.075-mm (No. 200). Silt & Clay
Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Coarse-Grained Soils: More than 50 %

retained on a 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve
Fine-Grained Soils: 50 % or more passes a
0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve
10 2mm

**Others: 12 Classes of aggregates as

per ASTM D 2487: see
http://www.pavementinteractive.org/
article/astm-aggregate-and-soilterminology/

AGGREGATES: PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES

Most important properties are:

a)Particle Size and Gradation
Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

b)Hardness or Resistance to Wear

c)Durability or Resistance to Weathering
d)Specific Gravity and Absorption
e)Chemical Stability
f)Particle Shape & Surface Texture
g)Freedom from deleterious particles and substances

AGGREGATES: PROPERTIES OF AGGREGATES

a) Particle Size and Gradation
(size discussed previously)

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Gradation: (grain size analysis)

grain size distribution for highway bases and asphalt mixes provide a
dense strong mixture
ensure that the voids between the larger particles are filled with
medium particles. The remaining voids are filled with still smaller
particles until the smallest voids are filled with a small amount of
fines.
Ensure maximum density and strength using a maximum density
curve

AGGREGATES: PARTICLE SIZE AND GRADATION

Gradation: Well, Uniform, Poorly, Gap

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

AGGREGATES: PARTICLE SIZE AND GRADATION

Dense Graded (or Well Graded): Size evenly distributed from smallest
to largest size.
Open-Graded (or Uniformly Graded) Friction Course: Primarily coarse
aggregate with few fines

Open/Uniformly
Graded

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Stone Mastic (or Gap Graded) Mid-size aggregate missing or reduced

AGGREGATES: PARTICLE SIZE AND GRADATION

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

AGGREGATES: PARTICLE SIZE AND GRADATION

Consideration in Selecting Gradation:

Strength or resistance to shear failure in road bases and pavements

is increased greatly if the mixture is dense graded

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

larger particles are in contact with each other developing frictional

resistances to shearing failure. Particles are tightly bond together
due to the inter-locking effect of smaller particles. This effect is
higher in (a) than (b)

AGGREGATES: PARTICLE SIZE AND GRADATION

Consideration in Selecting Gradation:

On the field

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Must limit the amount of fines

silt and clay particles are relatively weak
dust on larger aggregates will interfare with the aggregate/asphalt bond
Excessive fines in a base or subbase may lead to drainage on frost leaving
problems
Excessive fines results in weak structures because larger particles are not in
contact with each other strength.

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AGGREGATES: RESISTANCE TO WEAR

b) Hardness/Resistance to Wear
Wear due to: Compaction equipment,
polishing effect, polishing effect of traffic,
and internal abrasive effects.

Rotating drum @ 30-33 rpm

500 rotations
Standard wt. steel balls
Agg. Passing No.12(1.7 mm) is measured
Expressed as % of Original mass

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Los Angeles Abrasion Test

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AGGREGATES: RESISTANCE TO WEATHERING

b) Durability/Resistance to Weathering
Degradation of agg. Due to temperature, moisture etc. of the
surrounding environment (natural phenomena)
Measured by: Soundness Test
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Disintegration in saturated solution of Na

or Mg sulfate
Designated size fraction of agg. are taken
and immersed into solution.
16 t 18, in such a manner that the
solution covers them to a depth of at least
15 mm.
Remove the sample, oven dry, cool and
again immerse (for 5 cycles)
Sieve the fine aggregates over the same
sieve on which it was retained before test.
Sieve the coarse aggregate over the sieve
designated sieves for the appropriate size
of particles.

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AGGREGATES: SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION

c) Specific Gravity and Absorption

Specific Gravity
Apparent SG: considering net volume of agg. (excluding the waterpermeable voids). GA = (MD/VN)/w

Max (Theoretical) SG: excluding the volume of air voids.

GM = (MD/VS+b)/w
Absorption
Mass of absorbed water, %absorption = (MW/MD) x 100

MD = dry mass of agg.

VN = Net volume of agg.

VB = bulk volume of agg. VS+B = volume of agg and bitumen in mix

w = density of water.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Bulk SG: considering total volume of agg. (including water-permeable

voids). GB = (MD/VB)/w

MW = wt. of water

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AGGREGATES: CHEMICAL STABILITY

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Properties making agg. Unsuitable for construction

Excessive affinity to water (hydrophilic): Contributes to film stripping
of bitumen. Static Immersion Test/
Deleterious substances which reacts with the alkali material of
cement, results in abnormal expansion of concrete.

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BITUMINOUS MATERIAL
Bitumen: black or dark colored solid or viscous cementations
substances (constituents: high-molecular weight hydrocarbon).
Bituminous Material: Asphalt and Tar.
Asphalt- residue of crude oil or natural deposits

Properties those made bituminous material a prime component of

roadway construction:
Excellent binding/cementing power
Waterproofing properties
Relatively low cost
Source of Bituminous Material:
Natural Deposit
Residue of Petroleum Oil

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Tar- from destructive distillation of organic material (coal, wood,

petroleum)

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PRODUCTION OF BITUMINOUS MATERIAL

Distillation
Fractional Distillation (Steam

Destructive Distillation

Dis.)

(Cracking)

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

1. Volatile constituents are separated 1. The constituents undergoes

without substantial chemical change. chemical changes.
2. Relatively low T and P (600-7000 F) 2. Extremely high T & P (11000 F,50
atm)
3. Residue obtained: Petroleum 3. Residue obtained: pressure tar or
asphalt
cracked residue
4. Asphalt produced from petroleum 4. Produced asphalt is less weather
asphalt is more weather resistance resistance and durable.
and durable.

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BITUMEN: PRODUCTION OF ASPHALT

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BITUMEN: PRODUCTION OF ASPHALT

Diesel
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Kerosene
Gasoline

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TYPES OF ASPHALT/ ASPHALT CEMENT

Asphalt commonly used in flexible pavement construction and can be

divided into four (4) types:
Major Use: Pavement
Construction

** Learn the uses from handout.

** How to produce: short explanation from Figure 15-8.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Asphalt cement
Cutback asphalt
Emulsified asphalt
Air Blown Asphalt

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TYPES OF ASPHALT/ ASPHALT CEMENT

Uniqueness:
Allows cold Spraying.
Through the use of mechanical and chemical processes, allows two
or more materials to combine that would not mix under normal
conditions.
Anionic (- charge) effective in coating electropositive agg. Like
limestone.
Cationic (+ charge) effective in coating electronegative agg. Like
highly siliceous agg..

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Emulsified asphalt (emulsion):

asphalt cement + water + emulsifying agent
(soap or surfactant).
Two types: Anionic & Cationic.(depend on
emulsifying agent)
Because the asphalt cement will not dissolve
in water, asphalt cement and water exist in
separate phases.
usually used for prime coat (binder and roadbase) and tack coat (binder and wearing).

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TYPES OF ASPHALT/ ASPHALT CEMENT

Air Blown Asphalt:

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Produced by blowing air through the topped crude fraction

during the latter part of the refining A form of refining
process
5250 5750 F temperature with pressure + air + partial
vacuum.
Use: Joint filler, roofing materials.
Uniqueness:
Higher softening point than normal AC.
Waterproofing and durability remains un-compromised.

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GRADING OF ASPHALT/ ASPHALT CEMENT

How do we grade asphalt cement?
Two method: based on penetration and viscosity.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Penetration: As specified in ASTM D946,

there are five (5) standard penetration graded
of asphalt cement, 40-50, 60-70, 85-100, 120150 and 200-300. The penetration grade is
based from the penetration test.
[Penetration test involve measurements of penetration of
standard penetration needle into a sample of asphalt
cement under standard temperature, time and load.]

Viscosity: As specified in ASTM D3381, this grading is based on

the viscosity test. The viscosity grading system is based from
original asphalt cement include AC-2.5, AC-5, AC-10, AC-20, AC30 and AC-40.

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LABORATORY TESTS ON BITUMINOUS MATERIAL

Purity Test:

Solubility
Presence of Water

Ductility Test
Volatility test
Loss on Heating
Hardening Test: Thin Film Oven Test
Safety Test: Flash and Fire Point.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Consistency Tests:
Penetration
Softening Point (Ring & Ball
Method)

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LABORATORY TESTS: PURITY TESTS

Solubility Test:
2 g AC is dissolved in 100ml of solvent.
Solvent: trichloroethylene.
Filtered through fiberglass filter paper.
99% of AC should be soluble in trichloroethylene

Presence of Water:
During shipment moisture can contaminate bitumen.
Can cause AC to foam when heated above 2120 F.
According to AASHTO AC shall not foam when heated above 3470 F.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

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LABORATORY TESTS: CONSISTENCY TESTS

Penetration Test:

Presence of Water:
During shipment moisture can contaminate bitumen.
Can cause AC to foam when heated above 2120 F.
According to AASHTO AC shall not foam when heated above 3470 F.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Apparatus: Penetrometer
Standard Test Condition:100 gm load, 5 sec
& 250 C temperature.

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LABORATORY TESTS: DUCTILITY TEST

Ductility Test:
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Apparatus: Ductilometer
Standard Test Condition: Pulled at 5cm /min rate immersed into water
bath at 250 C temperature.
Applied for: Only to semi-solid (or solid) bituminous material with1 cm2
cross-section.
Ductility is interpreted as a measure of cementing power.

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LABORATORY TESTS: VOLATILITY TESTS

Distillation Test:
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To separate the volatile materials from non-volatile materials.

Temperature is increased gradually and the % of volatile materials at
any given temperature is determined.
Asphalt Emulsions are tested to know the water content and residue
from sample.

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LABORATORY TESTS: VOLATILITY TESTS

Loss on Heating (Volatilization):

Thin Film Oven Test:

TO determine the amount of hardening.
In plant mixing Penetration test is done before
and after the Thin Film Oven Test.
50 cm3 material in 1/8 inch thick film.
In 1630 C T, rotated for 5 hr.
Result: % of Penetration before the test.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

50 gm material is heated for 5 hr in 1630 C

temp.
% loss in weight is calculated.

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LABORATORY TESTS: SAFETYTEST

Flash and Fire Point Test:
Apparatus: Tagliabue Open Cup for Cutback (MC & RC).
Cleveland Open Cu for other asphalts.
Pensky Marten Flash Point Apparatus
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Flash Point: T at which a sudden flash of fire is seen.

Fire Point: T at which the flash is seen and sustains for at least 5 seconds.

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CEMENT

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Portland Cement:
Makes stone like mass by hydration process with water.
Four Principle Compounds:
Tricalcium Silicate
Dicalcium Silicate
Tricalcium Aluminate
Tetracalcium Aluminoferrite.
Types: According to ASTM- 8 types.
Frequently used: Type I, Type II and Type III.

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HIGH TYPE BITUMINOUS PAVEMENT

What is High Type Bituminous Pavement?
GENERALLY Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavement.
Thickness of surface vary from <1 inch to > 4 inch.
Carefully selected aggregates + semisolid bituminous binder.

Hot Mix Asphalt(HMA) is a combination of approximately 95% stone,

sand, or gravel bound together byasphaltcement, a product of crude oil.
Heatedasphaltcement is combined andmixedwith the aggregate at
an HMA facility.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

HMA:

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HMA
Fundamental properties of Bituminous Paving Mixture
**Stability: property by which the mix withstands the stresses due to
moving wheels, without any permanent deformation.

Relationships among the physical properties of Mix:

Stability & Durability = f (density)
Density = f (voids)
Voids = f (asphalt content)
So, while selecting %AC keep in mind:
Maximum voids and Minimum voids in mix
Possibility of Bleeding

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

**Durability: property that permits the mix to withstand the

detrimental effect of water, air and temperature.

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HMA

Flushing of Bitumen
excess asphalt binder occurs on the
roadway surface.
asphalt fills the voids in the aggregate
mat and comes up flush with top of rock,
but the binder is not liquid it is solid
or semi-solid.
Not as much harmful as bleeding

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Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Bleeding of Bitumen
upward movement of asphalt resulting in the
formation of a film of asphalt on the surface.
occurs when excess asphalt binder fills the voids
in the aggregate mat and then moves upward to
the pavement surface under traffic and with
heat expansion in a non-reversible, cumulative
process.
low air void content (under loads the density of mix will increase and the
excess bitumen will bleed out).
Reduced Stability and Safety is Compromised (reduces the roughness and
causes Hydroplaning)

OBJECTIVES OF MIX DESIGN

The exact % of AC must be allowed in the mix to ensure:

Fatigue cracking resistance

Surface texture, Safety (proper skid resistance).

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Sufficient Stability & Durability

Sufficient voids to permit slight amount of additional compaction
under traffic and allow slight expansion of bitumen under raised
temperature to avoid flushing, bleeding or loss of stability.
A maximum void content to limit the permeation of harmful air and
moisture into the mix.
Sufficient workability

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REFRENCES

Garber, N. J. and Hoel, L. A. Traffic and Highway Engineering.

4th Edition.

Md. Mehedi Hasnat, Lecturer, CE, AUST

Right, P. H. and Dixon, K. Highway Engineering. 7th Edition.

2003.

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