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Asphalt mix design Using Matlab Computer Program
To cite this article: Abbas Al-Hdabi et al 2020 IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 888 012025
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
Asphalt mix design Using Matlab Computer Program
Abbas Al-Hdabi1,* Jaafar M Al-Nasire2, and Nadia A Mohsin3
1
Asst. Prof., Faculty of Engineering, University of Kufa, Iraq.
[Link]@[Link]
2
BSc graduate, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kufa, iraq.
jafaartdx5@[Link]
3
Asst. Lect., Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Kufa, Iraq.
[Link]@[Link]
*corresponding author
Abstract. An accurate asphalt mix design is a big issue to produce high quality pavement layer.
Introduce a computer program that can be used to design different types of asphalt concrete
layers i.e. base, binder and surface course will be very helpful. Therefore, the authors are
introducing Asphalt Mix Design by MATLAB Program (AMDMAP) software to be used as a
replacement to the manual calculations. The input data such as the characteristics of the used
materials and lab work results must be available to run this program. The main output will be
indicating the optimum asphalt content. Also, the relationships between Marshall Stability,
Marshall flow, mixture density, Air Voids, Voids in Mineral Aggregate and Voids Filled with
Asphalt vs different contents of asphalt will be produced. Mixture properties at optimum asphalt
content will be indicated. Furthermore, the results will be compared with the standard
specification of roads in Iraq.
1. Introduction
Hot asphalt mix design for road construction is a delicate procedure that controls the final product quality
and long term performance. A good, optimal and suitable proportioning of constituents based on specific
criteria are fundamentals to the construction materials production that enable pavement structure to
withstand due to the growing of road traffic. Belgian Road Research Centre (BRRC) Recommendations
for asphalt mix design have been introduced in according to the method of a code of good practice [1].
Hot mix asphalt design process involves four complementary phases [2]:
I. Materials: select, characterization and compared with the specifications.
II. Asphalt mix design: analytical study to identify the fundamental ingredients.
III. Indicate voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) and air voids.
IV. Experimental verification: Testing the mechanical properties of the designed mix.
Another analytical mix design procedure has been established by the Belgian Road Research Centre
which was based on a volumetric approach [3]. This procedure was altered under the form of a software
program which is presently used in practice in Belgium which is called PRogram for Asphalt mix Design
and Optimisation (PRADO). Firstly continuously graded mixes was used in this procedure then
generalized and validated for a wide variety of mix types.
Hot asphalt mix design is one of the main concerns that is affected the performance of the road pavement
layers in the field. So, it has to be optimal and precise. In Iraq such as many other countries around the
world there is no computer software that is adopted by the government or the organization that is
responsible for asphalt mix design approval for roads and airports. In this research, a team work from
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
university of Kufa introduced a computer program which can be used to design different types of asphalt
concrete layers i.e. base, binder and surface course. The input data such as the characteristics of the used
materials and lab work results must be available to run this program. The main output will be indicating
the optimum asphalt content.
2. Standard Marshall Mix design
Based to the State Commission of Roads and Bridges in Iraq [4], finding the optimum asphalt content
for any asphalt mix requires several laboratory works and hand calculations to achieve the desired
properties.
So developing a computer program that can go throw the calculation process which it contains curve
fitting, finding maximum value of fitted curve, substituting into multiple equations. All these steps
would be a bit challenging to get accurate results. Since asphalt content is the most expansive ingredient
in the asphalt mix the designer should be more conservative for its value.
The following steps must be covered to indicate the optimum asphalt content for base, binder or surface
course hot asphalt mixture [4]:
2.1 Materials
Fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, mineral filler, asphalt cement and any other additives must tested and
compared with the required specifications.
2.2 Composition of Mixtures
The asphalt concrete mixtures for base course (type I), binder course (type II) and surface course (type
IIIA or type IIIB) shall be basically composed of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, mineral filler, and
asphalt cement. The mineral ingredients will be sized, uniformly graded and blended to meet the grading
requirements for the particular type under contract. To such compound blended aggregate (considered
as 100% by mass), asphalt cement shall be added within the percentage limits specified for the particular
type in the specifications [4].
The requirements for the hot asphalt mix shall conform to grading shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Asphalt Mixture Grading [4].
Sieve size, mm Type I Type II Type IIIA Type IIIB
Base course Binder course Surface course
37.5 100
25 90-100 100
19 76-90 90-100 100
12.5 56-80 76-90 90-100 100
9.5 48-74 56-80 76-90 90-100
4.75 29-59 35-65 44-74 55-85
2.36 19-45 23-49 28-58 32-67
300m 5-17 5-19 5-21 7-23
75m 2-8 3-9 4-10 4-10
Asphalt cement content 3-5.5 4-6 4-6 4-6
(% weight of total mix
Finally, the aggregate shall be uniformly graded and within the range between the low and high limit on
each adjacent sieves.
2.3 Hot Asphalt Mixtures requirements
Asphalt concrete mixtures shall have the properties shown in Table 2 when compacted by 75 blows on
each face with a standard Marshall hammer [4].
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
Table 2. Asphalt mix properties requirements [4].
Property Base course Binder course Surface course
Resistance to plastic flow (ASTM
D1559) 75 blows/face
Marshall Stability (min.), KN 5 7 8
Marshall flow, mm 2-4 2-4 2-4
Air voids in Marshall specimen, % 3-6 3-5 3-5
Voids in mineral aggregate (min.), % 12 13 14
ASTM D6927 and asphalt institute procedures, Marshall Mix design method is used to determine
optimum asphalt cement content [5,6]. Several specimens are prepared with i.e. 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6% by
mass of aggregate asphalt cement contents. Firstly, bulk and theoretical specific gravity of asphalt
mixtures are indicated based on ASTM D2726 and ASTM D2041. While, ASTM D3203 has been
followed to determine air voids. Then, Marshall stability and flow are implemented by Marshall testing
machine for each specimen. Lastly, the optimum asphalt cement for asphalt mixture is determined.
Indicating the optimum asphalt content needs many calculations to determine mixture dry density, Air
Voids (AV), Voids in Mineral Aggregate (VMA) and Voids Filled with Asphalt (VFA) that are
determined from eqs. (1–4), respectively.
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟
𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑆𝑆𝐷 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 −𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 1
where SSD is the mass of the saturated-surface dry specimens, gm.
𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠, % = (1 − ) × 100 % 2
𝑆𝐺𝑚𝑎𝑥
where SGmax is theoretical specific gravity of the mixture which is determined according to ASTM
D2041 or by using eq. 5.
𝐺 × 𝑃𝑠
𝑉𝑀𝐴 = 100% − 𝑚𝑏 𝐺
3
𝑠𝑏
where 𝑝𝑠 is percentage of aggregate in the total mix and 𝐺𝑠𝑏 is bulk specific gravity of aggregate (eq.
6).
(𝑉𝑀𝐴−𝐴𝑉)
𝑉𝐹𝐴 = 𝑉𝑀𝐴
× 100 4
100
𝐺𝑚𝑚 = 𝐶𝐴 𝐹𝐴 𝐹 𝐴 5
+ + +
𝑆𝐺𝐶𝐴 𝑆𝐺𝐹𝐴 𝑆𝐺𝐹 𝑆𝐺𝐴
Where: CA, FA, F and A are coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, filler and asphalt percentages by mass of
total mix, respectively.
SGCA, SGFA, SGF and SGA are coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, filler and asphalt specific gravity,
respectively.
𝑃1 +𝑃2 +⋯+𝑃𝑛
𝐺𝑠𝑏 = 𝑃1 𝑃2 𝑃 6
+ +⋯ 𝑛
𝐺1 𝐺2 𝐺𝑛
Where P1; P2; Pn are percentages of individual aggregate type by total mass of aggregate and G1; G2; Gn
are bulk specific gravities of individual aggregate type.
Then optimum asphalt cement content (OAC) can be obtained from eq. 7.
1
OAC = 3 [𝐴𝐶𝑚𝑎𝑥.𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 + 𝐴𝐶max 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 + 𝐴𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑠 ] 7
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
100−𝑃𝑏
𝐺𝑠𝑒 = 100 𝑃 8
+ 𝑏
𝐺𝑚𝑚 𝐺𝑏
Where: Gb= Specific gravity of asphalt
Gse= effective specific gravity of aggregate
3. Program for Asphalt mix Design
In this section, an overview on the proposed computer program, by using MATLAB software, which
can be used to design different types of asphalt concrete layers i.e. base, binder and surface course is
presented. The input data such as the characteristics of the used materials and lab work results must be
available to run this program. The main output will be indicating the optimum asphalt content. Also,
different relationships between different asphalt content and MS, MF, asphalt mix density, AV, VMA
and VFA are drawn and compared with the Iraqi specifications.
3.1 MATLAB programming
MATLAB is a high performance programming platform mainly designed for engineers and scientist and
it excels in viewing and analyzing data. Using MATLAB we can perform many tasks such as algorithms
development, data analysis and easily create models and applications. The uncountable built in functions
in MATLAB enable users to explore several ways to quickly reach the desired solutions. MATLAB
version R2014a has been used in programming AMDMAP [7].
3.2 Asphalt Mix Design by MATLAB Program (AMDMAP) software
The Asphalt Mix Design by MATLAB Program AMDMAP software package can be used as an
analytical mix design tool developed by the authors of this paper to indicate the optimum asphalt content.
This is the first version of the program operates on a WindowsTM platform. A graphical user interface
(GUI) has been created to enable users to input the data and get the results without the need for any prior
knowledge about MATLAB as shown in Figure 1. Each mix design study in AMDMAP consists of 5
steps and depends on the materials characterization and the laboratory results of five asphalt cement
contents i.e. 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6%:
1. Indicate asphalt mix type: Input the asphalt mix type that is corresponding to surface, binder or
base course;
2. Marshall Stability and flow: input Marshall stability and flow results for each individual asphalt
cement content i.e. 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6% by total mass of aggregate.
3. Characterization of all the different aggregate fractions and asphalt cement. For each aggregate
component the specific gravity and content (% passing by total weight of aggregate), are
required. Furthermore the specific gravity of asphalt cement is required;
4. Theoretical (maximum) specific gravity: the magnitude of the theoretical specific gravity
(Gmm) can be indicated by conducting ASTM2041 or applying eq. 5. Its worthy to state that
effective specific gravity of aggregate (Gse) is obtained from eq. 8.
5. Optimum asphalt content determination: using the input information on the aggregate
components and asphalt properties, optimum asphalt content can be determined by running
AMDMAP software. Also, different aggregate component will be indicated by percentage of
the total weight of the mix.
6. Mixture properties: the volumetric properties i.e. AV, VMA and VFA and the mechanical
properties i.e. MS and flow at the optimum asphalt content will be reported by AMDMAP
software. Finally, the relationship between different asphalt content and mix density, MS, MF,
AV, VMA and VFA will be drawn and the optimum asphalt content will nominated and
compared with the specification in accordance to State Commission of Roads and Bridges [4].
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
Figure 1. Geographical user interface.
4. Case study
Aggregate components and properties available for hot asphalt mix design for a surface course layer
are: bulk specific gravity for coarse aggregate (aggregate 1) = 2.630, bulk specific gravity for fine
aggregate (aggregate 2) = 2.675, bulk specific gravity for mineral filler (aggregate 3) = 3.14. Coarse
aggregate, fine aggregate and filler (by total mass of aggregate) are = 40%, 53% and 7%, respectively.
The specific gravity of asphalt cement= 1.03 % and the maximum specific gravity of mixture Gmm =
2.425 at asphalt content = 5 %.
Different type testing have been conducted with different asphalt cement content i.e. 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and
6% and the results are shown in Table 3.
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
Table 3. Asphalt mixtures properties with different asphalt content.
% Asphalt Marshall Marshall Weight in air, Weight in water, Saturated-surface
content stability (kN) flow (mm) gm gm dry weight, gm
4 8.7 2.3 1191 675 1201
4.5 9.3 2.5 1194 687 1206
5 10.2 3.0 1200 690 1207
5.5 10.0 3.4 1203 696 1208
6 9.8 3.6 1207 696 1210
The first step to indicate the optimum asphalt content and compare the results with the adopted
specification by using AMDMAP software is input the required information as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Geographical user interface with the case study input data.
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
The second step is press Run then save to pdf to produce the results and output data. Figure 3 shows
the input data while the output data is shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5. Furthermore, a detailed report
will be saved as pdf file which is shown in Appendix 1.
Figure 3. Input data of the case study as shown in the pdf file of the report.
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
Figure 4. Output data of the case study as shown in the pdf file of the report.
Figure 5. Output figures of the case study as shown in the pdf file of the report.
From Figure 3, it is clearly shown that the optimum asphalt content is 5.4% by total weight of mix while
other compound percentages are 37.84, 50.14 and 6.62% for coarse aggregate (aggregate 1), fine
aggregate (aggregate 2) and filler (aggregate 3). Also, the volumetric properties i.e. AV, VMA and VFA
at optimum asphalt content were reported.
On the other hand, the relationships between different asphalt content and MS, MF, Density, AV, VMA
and VFA are presented in the report. On each figure the upper and lower limit of each property are
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ICCEET 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 888 (2020) 012025 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/888/1/012025
shown and the corresponding result for each one at optimum asphalt content is clearly presented. The
results show that all asphalt mix properties at optimum asphalt content are within limitation and comply
with the specification.
5. Conclusion
In Iraq such as several other countries around the world there is no computer software that is adopted
by the government or the organization that is responsible for asphalt mix design approval for roads and
airports.
Asphalt Mix Design by MAtlab Program (AMDMAP) software is introduced by authors to design
different types of hot asphalt mixtures suitable for surface, binder or base course.
The input data comprise materials characterization, aggregate compounds and percentages, type of mix,
volumetric and mechanical properties of individual mixtures i.e. for mixtures with 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6%
asphalt cement.
While the main output will be the optimum asphalt content and the aggregate compounds percentages
by weight of the total mix.
Furthermore, the relationships between MS, MF, mixture density, AV, VMA and VFA and different
contents of asphalt is produced. Mixture properties at optimum asphalt content is indicated and
compared with the standard specification for roads in Iraq.
6. References
[1] BRRC’s Recommendations “Code of good practise for bituminous mix design”, R 69/97, 1997.
[2] Smit A.d. F., PAVDAM - Probabilistic and volumetric design of Asphalt mixtures. PhD
Dissertation published by University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, December 2002.
[3] Francken, L., Vanelstraete, A., Léonard, D., Pilate, O., “New Developments in the Prado
Volumetric Mix Design”, 6th RILEM Symposium PTEBM'03, Zurich, 2003
[4] State Commission of Roads and Bridges (SCRB/R9), General Specification for Roads and
Bridges, Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Housing and Construction, Department of Planning and
Studies, Baghdad, 2003.
[5] ASTM Standards (2004). "Roads and Paving Materials. Annual Book of the American Society
for Testing and Materials Standards, Section 4, Vol. 03-04.". Washinton, USA.
[6] Asphalt institute, 1974 “Asphalt Mix Design Methods, MS-2”
[7] MATLAB 2014a, The MathWorks, Natick, 2014