Scribd
Upload
191 views

Asphalt Mix Design Specification

This letter discusses asphalt mix design specifications for a road project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It proposes using the ASTM D3515 specification and Marshall mix design method, rather than what is specified in the AACRA specification, because the road needs a heavy duty designation and the required testing apparatus is unavailable. The letter provides tables outlining the proposed mix design criteria and composition for wearing and binder courses. It requests approval to use this specification to allow asphalt work to commence promptly.

Uploaded by

Adyam Yonas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
191 views

Asphalt Mix Design Specification

This letter discusses asphalt mix design specifications for a road project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It proposes using the ASTM D3515 specification and Marshall mix design method, rather than what is specified in the AACRA specification, because the road needs a heavy duty designation and the required testing apparatus is unavailable. The letter provides tables outlining the proposed mix design criteria and composition for wearing and binder courses. It requests approval to use this specification to allow asphalt work to commence promptly.

Uploaded by

Adyam Yonas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

CRBC ADDIS ENGINEERING P.L.

C
B
R

c=.›`.u=.c= ›Ç=e ›=”Í=’]”Ó ኃላ.¾}.¾ÓM TIu`


Ref No: CRBC/AC/037/12 Date: Nov 12, 2012

TO: BEST Consulting Engineers PLC


Addis Ababa
Attn: Ato Tedros Zewdu, resident Engineer
Ref: Ayat Round About-Ayat Condominum Km 0+000 to km 3+070.25 of
2004 Access Road Package Road Project

Subject: Asphalt mix design specification

Dear Sirs,

This refers to our discussion with your material engineer regarding


specification for the asphalt mix design. As per our discussion, we have
reached into an agreement to strictly follow the mix design for the Meskel
Square to Bole project. Accordingly, we will be applying the following
specification and Mix Design Methods:

Table 2.1-Composition of asphalt paving mixtures (ASTM D3515)

BS Sieve Size Percentage Passing by Mass


mm Bituminous Wearing Course Bituminous Binder Course

25 100
19 100 90—100
12.5 90—100 ------
9.5 ------ 56—80
4.75 44—74 35—65
2.36 28—58 23—49
1.18 ------ ------
0.6 ------ ------
0.3 5—21 5—19
0.15 ------ ------
0.075 2—10 2—8
Bitumen 85/100 85/100
Note: Our use of the filler is lime stone.

P.O.Box: 2509 Tel: 00251-1-391971 Fax: 00251-1-392468


Address: Kebele 10, Woreda Akaki Kaliti Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Table 5.2-Marshall Mix Design Criteria
Property Wearing Course Binder Course Remark
Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum
Marshall Min.9.0 Min.8.0 ERA
stability (KN
at 60℃ ) (75
blows on
each end of
specimen)
Marshall 4.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 ERA
Flow mm
Voids in mix 6.0 3.0 5.0 3.0 MS-2
%
Voids filled 75 60 75 60 MS-2
with asphalt
(VFA)
Voids in Min.14 Min.14 MS-2
Mineral
Aggregate
(VMA)
Voids in the Min.2 Oversea
mix at Road
refusal Note 31
condition
Bitumen 11 4.0 5.0 4.0 ASTM
Content D3515
(Percent by
mass of total
Mix)

We couldn’t apply AC20-MD as specified in Table 403.1 of AACRA


specification as it is for moderate duty designation while our road needs to
be a heavy duty type. So following the above ASTM D3515 is much better.
Moreover, we can’t apply the same test method of 75 blows for Heavy duty
Designation in the Marshal method as it requires a special test apparatus -
the gyratory compactor, which is not available here and even not commonly
used in many countries.

Please note that using ASTM D3515 for binder coarse which has a bit
coarser aggregate is advantageous as it will serve for heavier traffic and give
good mix gradation than using AACRA’s table 403.2.As you can see in the

P.O.Box: 2509 Tel: 00251-1-391971 Fax: 00251-1-392468


Address: Kebele 10, Woreda Akaki Kaliti Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
attached chart, this gradation is very close to the maximum density line
and will certainly result better pavement performance than the other.

This is therefore to kindly request you to give us approval so as to enable us


complete all tests and commence asphalt work as soon as possible.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation. We remain,

Sincerely yours

Wang Yang
General Manager
Encl: 3 pages specification and gradation charts
CC:
 Project Manager

P.O.Box: 2509 Tel: 00251-1-391971 Fax: 00251-1-392468


Address: Kebele 10, Woreda Akaki Kaliti Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

You might also like