TRANSPORTATION

ENGINEERING I
Chapter 6:Highway Material

Assistant Professor: Sabina Paudel

Paschimanchal Engineering College
Lamachour
Content
Road Aggregates
• Aggregates are the prime material used in the flexible pavement
construction.
• Aggregate bear stresses due to wheel loads coming over the
pavement also they resist wear due to abrasive action of traffic.
• They are used in pavement construction in cement concrete,
bituminous concrete and other bituminous construction.
Desirable properties of road aggregates
The desirable properties of aggregates used in road construction are :
Strength
Hardness
Toughness
Soundness
Durability
Shape of aggregates
Adhesion to bitumen
Freedom from deleterious particles
Cementation
Strength : Hardness :
The aggregates to be used in The aggregates used in the surface
road construction should be course are subject to constant rubbing
sufficiently strong to withstand or abrasion due to moving traffic.
the stresses due to traffic wheel They should be hard enough to resist
road. the wear due to abrasive action of
traffic.
The aggregates which are to be Abrasive action may be increased due to
used in top layers of the the presence of abrasive material like
pavements (wearing courses) sand between the tyres of moving
have to be capable of vehicles and the aggregates exposed at
withstanding high stresses in the top surface.
addition to wear and tear. This action may be severe in the case of
steel tyred vehicles.
Toughness :
Durability :
Aggregates in the pavement
The stone used in pavement
layers are also subjected to
construction should be durable and
impact due to moving wheel
should resist disintegration due to the
loads.
action of weather.
The magnitude of impact would
The property of the aggregates to
increase with the roughness of
withstand the adverse action of
the load surface, the speed of
weather may be called soundness.
the vehicle and other vehicular
characteristics.
The resistance to impact is called
toughness, which is another
desirable property of aggregates.
Shape of aggregates :
Soundness :
The shape of aggregate may be
It is the measure of durability under
rounded, cubical, angular, flaky
weathering.
or elongated.
Road aggregates should be capable
The flaky and elongated particles
to withstand wearing action.
will have less strength and
durability when compared with
cubical, angular or rounded
particles of the same stone.
Hence, too flaky and too much
elongated aggregates should be
avoided as far as possible.
Adhesion with bitumen:
Freedom from deleterious particles:
The aggregate used in bitumen
Aggregates should be clean, tough
pavements should have less
and durable in nature and free from
affinity with water when
excess amount of the elongated
compared with bituminous
pieces, dust, clay balls and other
materials.
objectionable materials.
If not the bituminous coating on
the aggregate will stripped off in
presence of water.
Cementation :
Aggregate must possess binding
property in presence of moisture,
specially used in WBM.
Classification of road aggregates
1. Based on size
1. Coarse aggregate
2. Fine aggregates
2. Based on sources
1. Natural aggregates
2. Manufactured aggregates
3. Based on unit weight
1. Light weight aggregate
2. Normal weight aggregate
3. Heavy weight aggregate
Test for road aggregate
1. Los Angeles abrasion test
2. Aggregate Crushing test
3. Impact test
4. Soundness test
5. Specific gravity test
6. Water absorption test
7. Bitumen adhesion test
8. Shape test
Los Angeles Abrasion test
• This test is carried out to find the percentage wear due to relative
rubbing action between the aggregate and metallic spheres used as
abrasive charges.
• This test is significant to determine the hardness (and toughness) of
the material. To select the most suitable aggregate for different kinds
of works based on abrasion value.
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 − 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
= ∗ 100
𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Apparatus & Materials
1. Machine consisting of a hollow steel
drum 500mm long and 700mm
diameter which rotates electrically
about the horizontal axis at the rate of
30-33RPM.
2. Weighing balance
3. A set od standard sieves
4. Abrasive charge of cast iron each of
48mm diameter and 390 to 445 gm in
weight
5. Drying oven
Precautions
• The lid of drums should be tightly closed, so that during rotation of
the drum no p articles come out of it.
• Care should be taken to see that no material is left in the drum after
the test and nothing spreads out while drawing the material from the
drum.
• The material should be properly oven dried before placing in the
drum.
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑟e
• Test sample consists of clean aggregates, if not wash the aggregates
and dry them in an oven between 105-110℃.
• Take aggregate of 5kg or 10kg depending on the gradient (𝑊1 )and
place it in the machine along with the abrasive charges( metallic
balls).
• Fix the lid of the drum tightly.
• The machine is rotated at speed of 30 to 33 RPM for specified
revolutions. ( 500 revolutions for Grade A, B, C and D and 1000
revolutions for grade E, F and G)
• After complete revolutions the material is taken out and sieved
through No. 12 sieve (1.7mm IS Sieve). The weight of material
retained is computed as 𝑊2 .
 Result
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 𝑊1 − 𝑊2

𝑊1 − 𝑊2
𝐴𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = ∗ 100%
𝑊1
Analysis:
Material Abrasive value (maximum)
Cement concrete, bituminous concrete, high Should not be <30
pavement materials
WBM 40
Bituminous concrete 35
 Crushing Test
• This test evaluate the ability of aggregate used in Road-Highway
construction to withstand the stress induced by moving vehicle in form of
crushing and gradual loading.
• This test method is applicable to aggregate passing on 12.5 mm test sieve
and retained on a 10.0 mm test sieve.
Principal:
A test specimen is compacted in a standard manner into a steel cylinder
fitted with freely moving plunger. The specimen is then subjected to
standard loading regime applied through the plunger. This action crushes
the aggregate to a degree which is dependent on he crushing resistance of
the material. This degree is assessed by a sieving test on the crushed
specimen and is taken as a measure of aggregate crushing value (ACV).
Apparatus and materials
1. Compression Testing Machine
2. Steel Cylinder with Plunger and Baseplate
3. Weight Balance
4. Sieve Sets
5. Rubber Mallet
6. Scale
7. Temping Rod
8. Oven
9. Metal Tray
10. Brush
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑟e
• Dry aggregate passing through 12.5mm sieve and retained on 10mm
sieve (oven dried at 100-110℃) is filled in the cylindrical measure.
Filling is done in three layers.
• Each layer is being tampered by 25 blows with the rounded end of
16mm diameter and 45cm long tamping rod.
• Here, the weight of aggregate is measured as 𝑊1 .
• Place the plunger of the machine on the filled test specimen and
loaded at the rate of 4 tons per minute up to 40 tons.
• The crushed aggregate is then sieved through 2.36mm sieve.
• Here, the weight of aggregate passing through 2.36mm sieve is 𝑊2 .
 Result
𝑊2
𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = ∗ 100%
𝑊1
A minimum of two such tests are carried out and the average value is
taken as aggregate crushing value.
Analysis:
Material Abrasive value (maximum)
Base course Should not be >45
Surface course Should not be >30
 Impact Test
• It is carried out to evaluate the roughness of the stone aggregate when
subjected to repeated impacts.
• Apparatus and materials
Steel cylinder (diameter 10.2 cm, depth 50mm, thickness 6.3mm)
Metal hammer (13.5- 14kg) attached with the vertical guides (free fall from
38.5cm)
Tamping rod of 10mm diameter and 230mm long
Procedure
Take aggregate sample passing through 12.5mm sieve and retained at 10mm
sieve, heated at 100-110℃ and cool at normal temperature for about 4 hours
Fill the aggregate in the cylindrical measure in three layers, each layer being
tamped by 25 nos of blows of tamping rod, , let it be weight=𝑊1
The aggregate sample filled in the cylindrical measure is then transferred in the
steel cylindrical cup of machine and compacted by 25 blows o the tamper.
The cylindrical cup thus filled with specimen aggregate is placed below the steel
hammer. The hammer is raised and allowed to fall on the upper surface of the
aggregate for 15 times.
The test aggregate is sieved through 2.36mm sieve.
Weight of the fines passing through the sieve is measured to be 𝑊2 .
 Result
𝑊2
𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = ∗ 100%
𝑊1
Lesser the aggregate impact value, stronger is the aggregate.

Material Impact value

Exceptionally tough aggregate Value less than 10%
Strong aggregate 10-20%
For road surfacing 20-30%
Base course Should not exceed 45%
Wearing course Should not exceed 30%
 Soundness Test
• It is carried out to evaluate the Apparatus and material
ability of stone aggregate to • Aggregate
withstand the weathering effects.
• Sieves
• The porous aggregates subject to
freezing and thawing is likely to • Sodium sulphate
disintegrate prematurely. • Barium chloride
• To ascertain the durability of such • Oven
aggregates, they are subjected to • Weighing scale
an accelerated soundness test.
Procedure
Specified weight 𝑊1 of dry aggregate of specified size range is taken and kept
immersed in saturated solution of sodium sulphate for 16 to 18 hrs at 20 ℃.
The aggregate is taken out of the solution and oven dried at 110 ℃ and allowed
to cool at room temperature.
This completes on cycle of wetting and drying. As per the atmospheric condition
the number of cycles is decided.
At the end of final cycle, aggregate is washed in Barium chloride to free it from
sodium sulphate and dried at 105-110℃.
The aggregate is then sieved on the same sieve it was retained before the test
and weighed.
The sample now retained is recorded as 𝑊2 .
 Result

𝑊1 − 𝑊2
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = ∗ 100%
𝑊1

Average loss of weight after such ten cycles should not be more than
12%.
 Shape Test
• Aggregates may be either round,
angular or flaky.
• Shape of aggregate are evaluated
in terms of:
• Flakiness
• Elongation index
• Angularity number
 Flakiness Index
• It is defined as the percentage by Procedure:
weight of the aggregate particles • This test is carried out on aggregate
whose dimension is less than 0.6 having particle size larger than 6.3mm.
times their mean size. • A sample of aggregate to b tested is
sieved through set of sieves and
• Apparatus and Materials separated into specified size range.
• Sieve sets • The particles retained on each sieve
are then made to pass through
• Aggregates appropriate slot of the standard
• Thickness gauge thickness gauge.
• The material which passes through the
appropriate slot of standard gauge for
each range of the test aggregate are
added up and weighted.
 Result
Let 𝑊1 = weight of flaky material from whole test
W= total weight of test sample
𝑊1
𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 = ∗ 100%
𝑊

 Flakiness index of aggregate to be used in road construction should not exceed 25%.
 Always preferred to keep it below 15%.
 Elongation Index
• It is defined as the percentage by Procedure:
weight of the aggregate particles • This test is carried out on aggregate
whose dimension (length) is 1.8 having particle size larger than 63mm.
times their mean size. • A sample of aggregate to be tested is
sieved through set of sieves and
• Apparatus and Materials separated into specified size range.
• Sieve sets • The particles retained on each sieve
are then made to pass through
• Aggregates greater than 6.3mm appropriate slot of the standard length
• Standard length gauge gauge.
• The material which passes through the
appropriate slot of standard gauge for
each range of the test aggregate are
added up and weighted.
 Result
Let 𝑊1 = weight of elongated material from whole test
W= total weight of test sample
𝑊1
𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 = ∗ 100%
𝑊

 Elongation index of aggregate should not exceed 15% for good aggregate and normally must not
exceed 25%.
 Specific gravity and water absorption test
• It is carried out to determine the Procedure:
water absorption value of stone. • Take about 2 kg of dry aggregate,
put it in a wire basket and immerse
• Apparatus and Materials in water for 24 hours.
• Water • Water is then drained off from the
• Aggregates basket and aggregate is weighted
• Cloth after making its surface dry with
• Wire basket the help of cloth. 𝑊1
• Aggregate is then oven dried at
100-500℃ for 24 hours.
• Sample is weighted again. 𝑊2
 Result
𝑊1 − 𝑊2
𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = ∗ 100%
𝑊2

 Stone aggregate should not absorb more than 0.6% of water.

Bituminous Road Binders

 Bitumen is a non-crystalline solid or viscous material

having adhesive properties.
 It is derived from crude petroleum either by natural
or refinery processes.
 Desirable properties of bitumen:
 Adequate Viscosity
 Non-susceptible to high temperature
 Should not strip off in presence of water
 Affinity and adhesion should be sufficient in mix
Test on bituminous binder
Penetration test
Ductility test
Viscosity test
Float test
Softening point test
Specific gravity test
Flash and fire point test
Solubility test
Loss on heating test
Water content test
 Penetration test
Apparatus and material:
1. Penetrometer
2. Time measuring device
3. Dial gauge
4. Bitumen sample
Procedure
Soften the material to a pouring consistency at a temperature not more than
60°C for tars and 90°C for bitumen above the approximate softening point and
stir it thoroughly until it is homogeneous and is free from air bubbles and water.
Pour the melt into the container to a depth at least 10mm in excess of the
expected penetration. Protect the sample from dust and allow it to cool in an
atmosphere at a temperature between 15° to 30° C for one hour. Then place it
along with the transfer dish in the water bath at 25° ± 0.1 °C, unless otherwise
stated.
Fill the transfer dish with water from the water bath to depth sufficient to cover
the container completely, place the sample in it and put it upon the stand of the
penetration apparatus.
Clean the needle with benzene, dry it and load with the weight. The total moving
load required is 100 ± 0.25 gms, including the weight of the needle, carrier and
super-imposed weights.
Procedure
Adjust the needle to make contact with the surface of the sample. This may be
done by placing the needlepoint in contact with its image reflected by the surface
of the bituminous material.
 Make the pointer of the dial to read zero or note the initial dial reading.
 Release the needle for exactly five seconds.
Adjust the penetration machine to measure the distance penetrated.
Make at least 3 readings at points on the surface of the sample not less than 10
mm apart and not less than l0mm from the side of the dish.
After each test return the sample and transfer dish to the water bath and wash
the needle clean with benzene and dry it. In case of material of penetration
greater than 225, three determinations on each of the two identical test
specimens using a separate needle for each determination should be made,
leaving the needle in the sample on completion of each determination to avoid
disturbance of the specimen.
Recommended value
• Penetration test is a commonly adopted test on bitumen to grade the
material in terms of its hardness.
• A 80/100 grade bitumen indicates that its penetration value lies between
80 & 100.
• Grading of bitumen helps to assess its suitability in different climatic
conditions and types of construction.
• For bituminous macadam and penetration macadam, IRC suggests bitumen
grades 30/40, 60/70, 80/100.
• In warmer regions, lower penetration grades are preferred to avoid
softening whereas higher penetration grades like 180/200 are used.
• In colder regions to prevent the occurrence of excessive brittleness. High
penetration grade is used in spray application works.
Ductility test
• The bituminous material tested is completely melted by heating it to a temperature of 75 to 100 degree Celcius above the
approximate softening point until it becomes thoroughly fluid.
• The mold is assembled on a brass plate and in order the material is prevented under test from sticking, thoroughly coat the surface
of the plate and the interior surfaces of the sides of the mold with a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and dextrin.
• While filling, the material is poured in a thin stream back and forth from end to end of the mold until it is more than level full.
• It is leaved to cool at room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes and then it is placed in a water bath maintained at the specified
temperature for 30 minutes, after which cut off the excess bitumen by means of a hot, straight-edged putty knife or spatula, so
that the mold is just level full.
• The brass plate and mold is placed with briquette specimen in the water bath and it is kept at the specified temperature for about
85 to 95 minutes. The briquette is removed from the plate; detach the side pieces and the briquette immediately.
• The rings are attached at each end of the two clips to the pins or hooks in the testing machine and the two clips are pulled apart
horizontally at a uniform speed, as specified, until the briquette ruptures.
• The distance is measured in cm through which the clips have been pulled to produce rupture.
• While the test is being done, the specimen both above and below by at least 25mm is covered with water in the tank of the testing
machine and the temperature is maintained continuously within ± 0.5oC of the specified temperature.
 Ductility test
Apparatus and material
 Briquette of standard
dimensions
 Pulling device with distance
measuring dial
 Water bath arrangement
Ductility test
• The bituminous material tested is completely melted by heating it to a
temperature of 75 to 100 degree Celcius above the approximate softening point
until it becomes thoroughly fluid.
• The mold is assembled on a brass plate and in order the material is prevented
under test from sticking, thoroughly coat the surface of the plate and the interior
surfaces of the sides of the mold with a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and
dextrin.
• While filling, the material is poured in a thin stream back and forth from end to
end of the mold until it is more than level full.
• It is leaved to cool at room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes and then it is placed
in a water bath maintained at the specified temperature for 30 minutes, after
which cut off the excess bitumen by means of a hot, straight-edged putty knife or
spatula, so that the mold is just level full.
Ductility test
• The brass plate and mold is placed with briquette specimen in the water bath and
it is kept at the specified temperature for about 85 to 95 minutes. The briquette is
removed from the plate; detach the side pieces and the briquette immediately.
• The rings are attached at each end of the two clips to the pins or hooks in the
testing machine and the two clips are pulled apart horizontally at a uniform
speed, as specified, until the briquette ruptures.
• The distance is measured in cm through which the clips have been pulled to
produce rupture.
• While the test is being done, the specimen both above and below by at least
25mm is covered with water in the tank of the testing machine and the
temperature is maintained continuously within ± 0.5oC of the specified
temperature.
 Viscosity test
Apparatus required;
 Orifice of 10mm size
 Sample collector
 Thermometer

Procedure:
 In orifice viscometer, viscosity is determined by the
tome taken by 50 ml of material to flow from a cup
through a specified orifice under standard conditions
and specified temperature.
Softening point test
California Bearing Ratio Test
• The test is an empirical test which gives an indication of the shear
strength of a soil.
• The great value of this test is that it is comparatively easy to perform
and because of its wide use throughout the world, there is a vast
amount of data to assist with the interpretation of results.
• The CBR test is essentially a laboratory test but in some instances the
test is carried out on the soil in-situ.
California Bearing Ratio Test
California Bearing Ratio Test
• The apparatus comprises a loading machine that operates in a strain-
controlled manner and exerts load at a constant rate such that the
penetration is 1.25mm per minute.
• Cylindrical moulds of 150mm diameter and 175mm height are
provided with a collar. The length of the collar is 50mm, and it also
has a perforated base which is detachable.
• A Compaction rammer and surcharge annular of 2.5kg
weight and 147mm diameter are also provided.
California Bearing Ratio Test
• The soil sample is passed through a 19 mm sieve. The soil passing the sieve
can be employed for the test. The soil retained on the sieve is replaced
with the same quantity of new soil.
• Upon sieving the sample, 3 samples of 6.8 kg are considered for the test.
• Specimens 1,2 and 3 are compacted to 10, 30, and 56 blows, respectively.
This leads to a variation in the maximum dry densities.
• Samples are mixed with a sufficient quantity of water to maintain an
adequate water content (OMC).
• Subsequently, the mould is connected to the base plate by means of an
extension collar.
• After that, the weight is measured.
California Bearing Ratio Test
• A spacer disc is placed on top of the mould along with filter paper.
• Soil is transferred in the mould in 3 layers.
• Each layer is well compacted. As a precedent, Specimen 1 is subjected to 10 rammer
blows so as to ensure sufficient compaction.
• Water content of soil before and after compaction is measured.
• The extension collar is then taken off, and the top of the mould is trimmed with a
straightedge to make the surface smooth.
• Following the same steps as above, the other two samples are compacted with an
adequate number of blows.
• Subsequently, both the base plate and spacer disc are removed.
• The weight of the mould and that of the compacted soil are measured.
• The mould is placed in an inverted position, and the base plate is attached to the mould
by means of a course filter paper.
California Bearing Ratio Test
• A surcharge load of 4.54 kg is applied on top of the base plate.
• The specimen is then soaked in water for the next 4 days.
• The weight of the specimen before and after soaking is determined so
as to estimate the swelling percentage. In this context, the equipment
for measuring expansion can be attached.
• After 4 days of water soaking, the mould is taken off from the water.
• Also, the base plate and the filter paper are removed.
• The surcharge load is also removed, and the mass of the mould and
the soil is measured.
California Bearing Ratio Test
• The mould is placed under the penetration piston in the CTM (Compression
Testing Machine), also called as the CBR Testing Machine.
• A surcharge load of 4.54 kg is again placed on top of the mould.
• Soon after, the CTM is started at a strain-controlled rate such that the
penetration is 1.25mm/minute. The piston shall penetrate through the soil.
• For measurement purposes, the CTM is accompanied by the dial gauge and
the proving ring. While the dial gauge measures the penetration, the
proving ring depicts the load applied to the sample.
• For arriving at the piston load, the readings obtained from the Proving ring
are multiplied by the machine constant.
• Subsequently, the load determined to reach different levels of penetration
is noted and then divided by the standard load for the given penetration.
California Bearing Ratio Test
California Bearing Ratio Test

i. 𝐶𝐵𝑅 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑎𝑡 2.5𝑚𝑚 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =

𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 (𝑃)
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 2.5𝑚𝑚 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
ii. 𝐶𝐵𝑅 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑎𝑡 5𝑚𝑚 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 (𝑃)
𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 5𝑚𝑚 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Test on bituminous binder
Penetration test
Ductility test
Viscosity test
Float test
Softening point test
Specific gravity test
Flash and fire point test
Solubility test
Loss on heating test
Water content test
Bituminous mixes
It is defined as the composition
of aggregates with bitumen or
other bituminous materials (like
cutback , emulsions) with or
without mineral filler which is
used for road pavement
construction.
Marshall method of bitumen mix design
Aims: objectives:
• The mixture should be of • To determine density-void
adequate strength to support the analysis for the given bitumen
intended traffic loads without mixture.
deformations. • To determine the strength and
• To ensure durability, mixtures flexibility for the given
should have sufficient bitumen. bituminous mixture.
• To avoid bleeding and hardening • To determine the suitability of
of the surface, compacted bituminous mixtures to meet the
pavement should have adequate specified criteria for surface
air voids. coarse.
Marshall method of bitumen mix design
Apparatus:
• Cylindrical mould
• A sample extractor
• Hammer of 4.54 kg weight
• A dial gauge to measure the deformation of
sample
• Proving ring to measure load applied
Marshall method of bitumen mix design
Procedure to prepare sample:
• Measure out 1200gm of aggregate and heat up at 154 to 160℃.
• Add bitumen at mixing mixing temperature to produce viscosity of 170 centistokes at various
percentage for both above or below expected optimum context.
• Mix the material in a heated pan with heated mixing tools.
• Return the mixture to oven and reheat it to the compacting temperature.
• Place the mixture in a heated Marshall mould with a collar and base. Spade the mixture around
the sides of the mould place filter paper under the sample and top of the sample.
• Place the mould in Marshall compaction pedestal.
• Compact the material with 50 nos. of blows by hammer, invert the sample and compact other
surface with the same number of blows.
• After the compaction invert the mould, with collar on bottom, remove the base of extract to
sample by pushing it out the extraction.
• Allow the sample to stand for a few hours to cool.
• Obtain the sample mass in air and submerged to measured density and specimen , so as to
calculate of cold properties.
Marshall method of bitumen mix design
Procedure to test:
• Specimen are heated at 60℃ either in a water bath for 30-40 minutes or in oven for a
minimum 2 hours.
• Remove from there and place to lower segment of breaking head. Then place to upper
segment of breaking head on the specimen and place the complete assembly in position
on the testing machine.
• Place the flow meter over the one of the post and adjust it to zero.
• Apply load at rate of 50 mm/min until the maximum load reading is obtained.
• Record the maximum loading N. at the same instant obtain the flow as recorded on the
flow meter in units of mm.
• After completing this, we plot graph as bitumen content by weight on x-axis and other
parameters on Y-axis. Then prepare graphs.
Marshall method of bitumen mix design
Marshall method of bitumen mix design
Determine optimum bitumen content:
• Binder content corresponding to maximum stability
• Binder content corresponding to maximum flow.
• Binder content corresponding to the median of designed limits of percent air voids in the total
mix.

Test property Specified value

Marshall stability, kg 340 (minimum)
Flow value, 0.25 mm units 8-17
Percent air voids in the mix, 𝑉𝑣 3-5 %
Voids filled with bitumen, VFB 75-85%