Chapter 19

Xyries Ferl C. Villarin

Stabilometer Tests

 The compaction of the specimen is accomplished by the use of a mechanical compactor

that consolidates the material by means of a kneading action.
 The compacted test specimens are used in the performance of four tests: swell test,
stabilometer test, bulk density determination, and cohesiometer test.
 In the swell test, the mold and compacted specimens are placed in a deep aluminun
pan.
 Stabilometer test specimens are heated to 140 degree Fahrenheit before testing.
 19-1.11 Superpave System

 The US Congress enacted the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) in 1987, which
provided 50 million dollars for the development of performance-based asphalt
specifications.
 The SHRP asphalt research program developed a system called Superpave trade-marked
designation which stands for Superior Performing Asphalt pavements.

The Superpave procedure consists of four main parts:

1. Selection of materials (asphalt binder and aggregates)
2. Selection of design aggregate structure
3. Selection of design asphalt binder content
4. Evaluation of moisture sensitivity of design asphalt mixture
Selection of the Asphalt Binder

 According to the Asphalt Institute, the central theme of the Superpave binder
specification is its reliance on testing asphalt cinders in conditions that stimulate three
critical stages during the binder’s life.

 Tests performed on the original asphalt represent the first stage of transport, storage, and
handling.
 The second stage represents the asphalt during mix production and construction. This
procedure exposes thin binder films to heat and air and approximates the aging of the
asphalt.
 The third stage occurs as the binder ages over long period of time as part of the hot mix
asphalt pavement layer.
 Table 19-10 Superpave Binder Test Equipment
Equipment Purpose Reference
Rolling thin-film oven Simulate binding aging (hardening) AASHTO T240
characteristics in mixing and
construction
Pressure aging vessel Simulate binder aging over time in AASHTO PP1
pavement layer
Dynamic shear rheometer Measure binder properties at high and AASHTO TP5
intermediate temperatures to test for
susceptibility to rutting and fatigue
cracking
Rotational Viscometer Measure binder properties at high ASTM D4402
temperatures to determine handling
and flow characteristics
Bending beam rheometer Measure binder properties at low AASHTO TP1
temperatures to determine
susceptibility to low-temperature
cracking
Direct Tension Tester Measure binder properties at low AASHTO TP3
temperatures to determine
susceptibility to low-temperature
cracking
Selection of Aggregates

 Unlike the Marshall and Hveem mix design methods, the Superpave system incorporates
aggregate criteria into its procedures.

 SHRP researchers surveyed pavement experts who identified four consensus properties
considered critical to well-performing hot-mix asphalt.

 The properties are coarse aggregate, aggregate angularity, fine aggregate angularity,cly
content, and flat and elongated particles.
Standard Tests Used to Measure the Consensus Properties

 Coarse aggregate angularity ASTM D5821

 Fine aggregate angularity AASHTO T304
 Clay content (sand equivalent) AASHTO T176
 Flat and elongated particles ASTM D4791

The aggregate experts also identified three source properties: toughness,

soundness, and deleterious materials.
The Superpave system defines maximum size and nominal maximum size as follows:

 Maximum size: One sieve size larger than the nominal maximum size.
 Nominal maximum size: One sieve size larger than the first sieve to retain more than 10
percent.
 Table 19-13 Superpave Boundaries of Aggregate Restricted Zone

Sieve Size Min. and Ma. Boundaries of Sieve Size for Nominal Aggregate (Minimum and Maximum
Within Percent Passing)
Restricted
Zone 37.5mm 25 mm 19 mm 12.5 mm

Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max.

.300 mm 10.0 10.0 11.14 11.14 13.7 13.7 15.5 15.5

.600 mm 11.7 15.7 13.6 17.6 16.7 20.7 19.1 23.1

1.18 mm 15.5 21.5 18.1 24.1 22.3 28.3 25.6 31.6

2.36 mm 23.3 27.3 26.8 30.8 34.6 34.6 39.1 39.1

4.75 mm 34.7 34.7 39.5 39.5 - - - -

Selection of Design Aggregate Structure

 The mix designer selects the design aggregate structure by trial blends.
 This is accomplished by mathematically combining the gradations of individual mixtures
into a single gradation.
 The gradation control is based on these four control sieves: the maximum sieve, the
nominal maximum sieve, the 2.36 mm sieve, and the 0.075 mm sieve.
 Any proposed trial blend has to pass between the control points specified for these four
sieves.
 Typically, three trial blends are chosen, and at least two specimens are compacted for
further testing.
Selection of Design Asphalt Binder Content

The remaining steps of the Superpave test procedure are:

1. Blending asphalt with the trial blends

2. Short-term oven aging the mixture
3. Compacting the specimens
4. Analyzing the volumetrics of the trial blends
5. Selecting the “best” blend based on the design aggregate structure
6. Compacting samples of the design aggregate structure at several asphalt contents to
determine the design asphalt content.
 The SHRP researchers developed a device called the Superpave Gyratory Compactor
(SGC) based on a Texas gyratory compactor.

 The SGC was intended to compact the mixture test specimens to densities achieved
under actual pavement and loading conditions.
Evaluate Moisture Sensitivity

 As a final step in the Superpave mix design process, SHRP researchers recommend that
the moisture sensitivity of the design be tested.
 This step is accomplished by performing standard test AASHTO T283 at the design asphalt
binder content.
 Two subsets of specimens are compacted at approximately 7 percent air voids: three
known as a conditioned subset.
 The moisture sensitivity is reported as the ratio of the tensile strengths of the conditioned
set divided by the tensile strengths of the control set.
 It is recommended that the tensile ratio be at least 80 percent.