University of Jordan

Faculty of Engineering

Pavement Lab report

Mix design using Marshall method
Eng. Razan Baniata

Date: 20/12/2021, Tuesday

Prepared by:
Yazan Zeyad Fayiz 0185767
Zaid Fahed Bselieh 0180558
Objective:
1- Find the optimum binder content (OBC).
2- Determine the stability and resistance to plastic flow of bituminous mixtures using the
marshall apparatus.
Theory:
The design of asphalt paving mixes is largely a matter of selecting and proportioning materials
to obtain the designed properties in the finished construction.
The overall objective for the design of asphalt paving mixes is to determine an economical
blend and gradation of aggregates (within the limits of the project specifications).
Significance of Marshall test:
1- Marshall stability measures the maximum load sustained by the bituminous material at a
loading rate of 50.8 mm/min.
2- Marshall stability is related to the resistance of bituminous materials to distortion,
displacement, rutting and shearing stresses.
3- The stability is derived mainly from internal friction and cohesion. Cohesion is the
binding force of binder material while internal friction is the interlocking and the frictional
resistance of aggregates.
Apparatus:
• Specimen mold assembly.
• Specimen extractor.
• Compaction hammer weighing 4.5 kg.
• Compaction pedestal.
• Specimen mold holder.
• Breaking head.
• Loading jack.
• Ring dynameter assembly.
• Flow meter.
• Oven and/or hot plate.
• Mixing apparatus.
• Water bath.
• Containers.
Procedure:
▪ Prepare aggregate to a particular grading specification.
▪ Determine the mixing temperature.
▪ Weigh into the pan.
▪ Heat the aggregate to the specified mix.
▪ Place the heated aggregate into the heated mix.
▪ Form a crater in the middle of the aggregate.
▪ Mix the bitumen with the aggregate.
▪ Place a filter paper.
▪ Place the mixture into the compaction.
▪ Spread the mixture completely in the mold.
▪ Remove the collar.
▪ Replace the collar.
▪ Remove the base plate.
▪ Extrude the sample.
▪ Place the specimen.

Calculations:
PHA% Sample AC% Height Weight in Weight in S.S.D Total
(mm) Air (g) Water (g) Volume
(cm3)
4.5 A 4.30622 65.2 1118 610 1143 533
4.5 B 4.30622 70.9 1144 622.6 1169 546.4
4.5 C 4.30622 69.93 1133 616 1157 541
Average
5 A 4.7619 69.83 1139 618.6 1162 543.4
5 B 4.7619 69.97 1138 625 1158 533
5 C 4.7619 69.97 1149 627 1170 543
Average
5.5 A 5.21327 67.4 1143 618.5 1155 536.5
5.5 B 5.21327 70.02 1149 623.2 1162 538.8
5.5 C 5.21327 70.1 1149 627 1166 539
Average
6 A 5.66037 67.83 1153 633.7 1175 541.3
6 B 5.66037 69.58 1150 625 1165 540
6 C 5.66037 69.8 1155 633 1178 545
Average
 Bitumen VFA% Density AV% VMA% VFA%
Volume (cm3) (g/cm3)
48.1435 449.5195 2.09756098 6.62983114 15.6623827 0.57670354
49.2632 459.9734 2.09370425 6.80150073 15.8174597 0.57000044
48.7895 455.5506 2.09426987 6.77632163 15.7947135 0.57097534
2.09517836 6.7358845 15.7581853 0.57255977
54.238 455.7823 2.09606183 6.14274936 16.1239787 0.61903017
54.1904 455.3822 2.13508443 4.39538462 14.562439 0.69816975
54.7142 459.7839 2.1160221 5.24896869 15.3252486 0.65749536
2.11572279 5.26236755 15.3372221 0.65823176
59.5876 455.2153 2.1304753 4.04419385 15.1509226 0.73307277
59.9004 457.6048 2.1325167 3.95226429 15.0696362 0.73773327
59.9004 457.6048 2.13172542 3.98790353 15.1011503 0.73592055
2.13157247 3.99478722 15.1072364 0.73557553
65.2641 457.0319 2.13005727 3.51080732 15.5677258 0.77448168
65.0943 455.8428 2.12962963 3.53016667 15.5846667 0.77348462
65.3773 457.8246 2.11926606 3.99965138 15.9954862 0.74995125
2.12631765 3.68020845 15.7159596 0.76597252

Stability stability Correction Corrected Flow Flow

(KN) (Kg) Factor stability (mm) (0.01in.)
(table(1)) (kg)
3.906 398.412 0.928 369.726336 3.31 13.24
6.002 612.204 0.83483871 511.091597 2.798 11.192
8.873 905.046 0.84422581 764.063189 2.7 10.8
548.293708 11.744
11.137 1135.974 0.84519355 960.117896 4.16 16.64
9.752 994.704 0.84383871 839.36974 3 12
11.522 1175.244 0.844 991.905936 2.99 11.96
930.464524 13.5333333
11.326 1155.252 0.876875 1013.0116 4.09 16.36
13.405 1367.31 0.84335484 1153.1275 3.7 14.8
10.826 1104.252 0.84258065 930.421363 3.6 14.4
1032.18682 15.1866667
10.667 1088.034 0.8688125 945.29754 3.8 15.2
8.921 909.942 0.8476129 771.27858 4.2 16.8
10.734 1094.868 0.845 925.16346 4 16
880.57986 16
Sample of calculations:
a) AC%:
𝑃𝐻𝐴
AC% = [(𝑃𝐻𝐴+100)] × 100%
4.5
AC% = [(4.5+100)] × 100% = 4.30622%

b) Total volume:
Total volume = SSD-weight in water
Total volume = 1143 – 610 = 533 𝑐𝑚3

c) Bitumen volume:
Bitumen volume = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟 × ( 𝐴𝐶%)
Bitumen volume = 1118 × 4.30622% = 48.1435 𝑐𝑚3

d) Aggregate volume:
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟
Aggregate volume = ( 1 − 𝐴𝐶%) × ( )
SGagg
1118
Aggregate volume =( 1 − 4.30622%) × ( 2.38 ) = 449.5195 𝑐𝑚3

e) Density:
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟
Density = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
1118 g
Density = = 2.09756098 ⁄cm3
533

f) Air voids:
(𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 − 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 − 𝑎𝑔𝑔.𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒)
Air voids = × 100%
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
(533 − 48.5195 − 449.5195)
Air voids = = 6.62983114%
533

g) VMA%:
(𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 – 𝑎𝑔𝑔.𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒)
VMA% = × 100%
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
(553 – 449.5195)
VMA% = = 15.6623827 %
553

h) VFA:
(𝑉𝑀𝐴% − 𝐴𝑉%)
VFA= 𝑉𝑀𝐴%
(15.6623827 − 6.62983114)
VFA= = 0.57670354%
15.6623827
 i) Flow(in):
Flow (in) = 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 (𝑚𝑚) × 4
Flow (in) = 3.31 × 4 = 13.24

j) Stability(kg):
Stability(kg) = 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦(𝑘𝑁) × 102
Stability(kg) = 3.906 × 102 = 398.412 𝑘𝑔

k) Stability correction factor:

We use interpolation:

65.1 0.93
65.2 0.928
66.7 0.89

l) Corrected stability:
Corrected stability (kg) = 𝑂𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝑘𝑔) × 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Corrected stability (kg) = 398.412 × 0.928 = 369.726336 𝑘𝑔

Graphs:

Stability

Stability
1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0
4 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8
 Air voids

air voids
8

0
4 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8

Density

density
density

2.135
2.13
2.125
2.12
2.115
2.11
2.105
2.1
2.095
2.09
4 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8
 Flow

flow
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
4 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8

Void filled with asphalt (VFA):

VFA%
Series1

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
4 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8
 Voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA%)

VMA%
15.8

15.7

15.6

15.5

15.4

15.3

15.2

15.1

15
4 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8

Method 1:
let the binder contents corresponding to maximum density be B1, corresponding to maximum
stability be B2 and that corresponding to the specified voids content (at 4.0%) be B3. Then the
optimum binder content for mix design is given by: Bo = (B1+B2+B3)/3
corresponding to maximum density = 5.21327%
corresponding to maximum stability = 5.21327%
corresponding to the specified voids content (at 4.0%) = 5.21327%

Bo = ( 5.21327+5.21327+5.21327)/3 = 5.21327%

Method 2:
the asphalt binder content that corresponds to the specifications median air void content
(typically this is 4 percent).
Bo = 5.21327%
Method 3:
To determine the O.B.C., the binder contents corresponding to maximum stability, maximum
unit weight, and to appropriate percentages (guided by the design specifications) of voids in
total mix and aggregate voids filled with binder are determined. The O.B.C. is then taken as
the average of these four binder contents.
corresponding to maximum stability = 5.21327%
corresponding to the specified voids content (at 4.0%) = 5.21327%
corresponding to maximum density = 5.21327%
corresponding to unit weight = 5.21327%
OBC = 5.21327%

Conclusion:
The asphalt content that is the most suitable is AC% = 5.21327%
As shown by the results of the three methods.