ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

THEORETICAL MAXIMUM SPECIFIC GRAVITY (Gmm) AND DENSITY OF HOT

MIX ASPHALT (HMA) PAVING MIXTURES
FOP FOR AASHTO T 209

Scope

This procedure covers the determination of the maximum specific gravity (Gmm) of
uncompacted hot mix asphalt (HMA) paving mixtures in accordance with AASHTO
T 209-12. Two methods using different containers – bowl and pycnometer / volumetric
flask– are covered.

Specimens prepared in the laboratory shall be cured according to agency standards.

Apparatus

• Balance or scale: 10,000 g capacity, readable to 0.1 g

• Container: A glass, metal, or plastic bowl, pycnometer or volumetric flask between 2000
and 10,000 mL as required by the minimum sample size requirements in Table 1 sample
and capable of withstanding a partial vacuum

• Pycnometer / volumetric flask cover: A glass plate or a metal or plastic cover with a
vented opening

• Vacuum lid: A transparent lid with a suitable vacuum connection, with a vacuum
opening to be covered with a fine wire mesh

• Vacuum pump or water aspirator: Capable of evacuating air from the container to a
residual pressure of 4.0 kPa (30 mm Hg)

• Residual pressure manometer or vacuum gauge: Traceable to NIST and capable of

measuring residual pressure down to 4.0 kPa (30 mm Hg) or less

• Manometer or vacuum gauge: Capable of measuring the vacuum being applied at the
source of the vacuum

• Water bath: A constant-temperature water bath (optional)

• Thermometers: Standardized liquid-in-glass, or electronic digital total immersion type,

accurate to 0.5°C (0.9°F)

• Bleeder valve to adjust vacuum

• Timer

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ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

Standardization of Pycnometer or Volumetric Flask

Use a pycnometer / volumetric flask that is standardized to accurately determine the mass of
water, at 25 ±0.5°C (77 ±0.9°F), in the pycnometer / volumetric flask. The pycnometer /
volumetric flask shall be standardized periodically in conformance with procedures
established by the agency.

Test Sample Preparation

1. Obtain samples in accordance with the FOP for AASHTO T 168 and reduce according to
the FOP for AASHTO R 47.

2. Test sample size shall conform to the requirements of Table 1. Samples larger than the
capacity of the container may be tested in two or more increments. Results will be
combined and averaged. If the increments have a specific gravity difference greater than
0.014 the test must be re-run.
Table 1
Test Sample Size for Gmm
Nominal Maximum*
Aggregate Size Minimum Mass
mm (in.) g
37.5 or greater (1 ½) 4000
19 to 25 (3/4 to1) 2500
12.5 or smaller (1/2) 1500
*Nominal maximum size: One sieve larger than the first sieve to retain more than 10 percent
of the material using an agency specified set of sieves based on cumulative percent retained.

Procedure – General

Two procedures – bowl and pycnometer / volumetric flask – are covered. The first 11 steps
are the same for both.

1. Separate the particles of the sample, taking care not to fracture the mineral particles,
so that the particles of the fine aggregate portion are not larger than 6.3 mm (1/4 in.).
If the mixture is not sufficiently soft to be separated manually, place it in a large flat
pan and warm in an oven only until it is pliable enough for separation.

2. Cool the sample to room temperature.

3. Determine and record the mass of the dry container, including the cover, to the
nearest 0.1 g.

4. Place the sample in the container.

5. Determine and record the mass of the dry container, cover, and sample to the nearest
0.1 g.

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ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

6. Determine and record the mass of the sample by subtracting the mass determined in
Step 3 from the mass determined in Step 5. Designate this mass as “A.”

7. Add sufficient water at approximately 25° C (77° F) to cover the sample by about
25 mm (1 in.).
Note 1: The release of entrapped air may be facilitated by the addition of a wetting agent. Check with the
agency to see if this is permitted and, if it is, for a recommended agent.
8. Place the lid on the container and attach the vacuum line. To ensure a proper seal
between the container and the lid, wet the O-ring or use a petroleum gel.

9. Remove entrapped air by subjecting the contents to a partial vacuum of 3.7 ±0.3 kPa
(27.5 ±2.5 mm Hg) residual pressure for 15 ±2 minutes.

10. Agitate the container and contents, either continuously by mechanical device or
manually by vigorous shaking, at 2 minute intervals. This agitation facilitates the
removal of air.

11. Slowly open the release valve, turn off the vacuum pump, and remove the lid. When
performing the pycnometer / volumetric flask method, complete steps 12B through
16B within 10±1 minutes.

Procedure – Bowl

12A. Fill the water bath to overflow level with water at 25 ±1°C (77 ±1.8°F) and allow the
water to stabilize.

13A. Zero or tare the balance with the immersion apparatus attached, ensuring that the
device is not touching the sides or the bottom of the water bath.

14A. Suspend and immerse the bowl and contents in water at 25 ±1°C (77 ±2°F) for
10 ±1 minutes. The holder shall be immersed sufficiently to cover both it and the
bowl.

15A. Determine and record the submerged weight of the bowl and contents to the nearest
0.1 g.

16A. Refill the water bath to overflow level.

17A. Empty and re-submerge the bowl following Step 12A to determine the submerged
weight of the bowl to the nearest 0.1 g.

18A. Determine and record the submerged weight of the sample to the nearest 0.1 g by
subtracting the submerged weight of the bowl from the submerged weight determined
in Step 15A. Designate this submerged weight as “C.”

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ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

Procedure – Pycnometer or Volumetric Flask

12B. Immediately fill the pycnometer / volumetric flask with water without reintroducing
air.

13B. Stabilize the temperature of the pycnometer / volumetric flask and contents so that the
final temperature is within 25 ±1°C (77 ±2°F).

14B. Finish filling the pycnometer / volumetric flask with water that is 25 ±1°C (77 ±2°F),
place the cover or a glass plate on the pycnometer / volumetric flask, and eliminate
all air.
Note 2: When using a metal pycnometer and cover, place the cover on the pycnometer and push down slowly,
forcing excess water out of the hole in the center of the cover. Use care when filling the pycnometer to
avoid reintroducing air into the water.
15B. Towel dry the outside of the pycnometer / volumetric flask and cover.

16B. Determine and record the mass of the pycnometer / volumetric flask, cover, de-aired
water, and sample to the nearest 0.1 g. within 10 ±1 minutes of completion of Step
11. Designate this mass as “E.”

Procedure – Mixtures Containing Uncoated Porous Aggregate

If the pores of the aggregates are not thoroughly sealed by a bituminous film, they may
become saturated with water during the vacuuming procedure, resulting in an error in
maximum density. To determine if this has occurred, complete the general procedure and
then:

1. Carefully drain water from sample through a towel held over the top of the container
to prevent loss of material.

2. Spread sample in a flat shallow pan and place before an electric fan to remove surface
moisture.

3. Determine the mass of the sample when the surface moisture appears to be gone.

4. Continue drying and determine the mass of the sample at 15-minute intervals until
less than a 0.5 g loss is found between determinations.

5. Record the mass as the saturated surface dry mass to the nearest 0.1 g. Designate this
mass as “ASSD.”

6. Calculate, as indicated below, Gmm using “A” and “ASSD,” and compare the two
values.

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ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

Calculation

Calculate the Gmm to three decimal places as follows:

Bowl Procedure

𝐴 𝐴
𝐺𝑚𝑚 = 𝑜𝑜 𝐺𝑚𝑚 =
𝐴−𝐶 𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑆 − 𝐶
(for mixes containing uncoated aggregate materials)
where:

A = mass of dry sample in air, g

ASSD = Mass of saturated surface dry sample in air, g

C = submerged weight of sample in water, g

Example:

A = 1432.7 g
ASSD = 1434.2 g
C = 848.6 g

1432.7 𝑔 1432.7 𝑔
𝐺𝑚𝑚 = = 2.453 𝑜𝑜 𝐺𝑚𝑚 = = 2.447
1432.7 𝑔 − 848.6 𝑔 1434.2 𝑔 − 848.6 𝑔

Pycnometer / Volumetric Flask Procedure

𝐴 𝐴
𝐺𝑚𝑚 = ×𝑅 𝑜𝑜 𝐺𝑚𝑚 = ×𝑅
𝐴+𝐷−𝐸 𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑆 + 𝐷 − 𝐸
(for mixtures containing uncoated materials)

where:

A = Mass of dry sample in air, g

ASSD = Mass of saturated surface-dry sample in air, g

D= Mass of pycnometer / volumetric flask filled with water at 25°C (77°F), g,

determined during the Standardization of Pycnometer / Volumetric Flask
procedure

E= Mass of pycnometer / volumetric flask filled with water and the test sample at test
temperature, g

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ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

R= Factor from Table 2 to correct the density of water – use when a test temperature
is outside 25 ±1°C (77 ±2°F)

Example (in which two increments of a large sample are averaged):

Increment 1 Increment 2

A = 2200.3 g A = 1960.2 g

D = 7502.5 g D = 7525.5 g

E = 8812.3 g E = 8690.8 g

Temperature = 26.2°C Temperature = 25.0°C

2200.3 𝑔
𝐺𝑚𝑚1 = × 0.99968 = 2.470
2200.3 𝑔 + 7502.5 𝑔 − 8812.3 𝑔

1960.2 𝑔
𝐺𝑚𝑚2 = × 1.00000 = 2.466
1960.2 𝑔 + 7525.5 𝑔 − 8690.8 𝑔

Allowable variation is: 0.014

2.470 - 2.466 = 0.004, which is < 0.014, so they can be averaged.

Average

2.470 + 2.466 = 4.936 4.936 ÷ 2 = 2.468

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ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

Theoretical Maximum Density

To calculate the theoretical maximum density at 25°C (77°F) use one of the following
formulas. The density of water at 25°C (77°F) is 997.1 in Metric units or 62.245 in English
units.

Theoretical maximum density kg/m3 = Gmm × 997.1 kg/ m3

2.468 × 997.1 kg/ m3 = 2461 kg/ m3

or

Theoretical maximum density lb/ft3 = Gmm × 62.245 lb/ft3

2.468 × 62.245 lb/ft3 = 153.6 lb/ft3

Report

• Results on forms approved by the agency

• Sample ID
• Gmm to three decimal places
• Theoretical maximum density to1 kg/m3 (0.1 lb/ft3)

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ASPHALT WAQTC FOP AASHTO T 209 (15)

44_T209_short_15_errata Asphalt 15-8 Pub. October 2015