Asphalt Mix Design and Performance for Pavement Durability

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Evaluate subgrade, aggregate, and binder characteristics to support durable asphalt pavement design

• Select and justify appropriate asphalt mix designs using Marshall and Superpave methodologies

• Perform and interpret key volumetric, performance, and quality control test results

• Determine optimum asphalt content while addressing moisture damage, durability, and constructability risks

• Apply life‑cycle, performance, and quality considerations to real‑world pavement design and rehabilitation decisions

Description

Designing asphalt pavements that perform reliably over their intended service life requires more than following specifications; it demands an understanding of how materials, environmental conditions, design parameters, and construction practices interact. Decisions made during mix design directly affect pavement durability, maintenance needs, and long‑term cost, yet these decisions are often made under schedule, budget, and performance constraints.

This course provides a structured, practice‑oriented approach to asphalt mix design and performance evaluation. Participants will explore how aggregates, binders, volumetrics, and mixture properties influence pavement behavior, while gaining hands‑on exposure to both Marshall and Superpave systems. Emphasis is placed on interpreting test results, managing quality in both the laboratory and field, and understanding how design choices impact long‑term pavement performance.

Through guided workshops, demonstrations, and applied examples, this course equips participants with practical tools they can immediately apply to mix selection, design review, and quality management for new construction, rehabilitation, and overlay projects.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Civil, pavement, and transportation engineers and engineering technologists

• Professionals involved in asphalt mix design, testing, or quality management

• Consultants, owners, and agency staff responsible for pavement design or review

Early‑career through senior practitioners seeking stronger applied understanding of asphalt mix performance

Day I

Role of Asphalt Mixes in Pavement Life

• Importance of geotechnical conditions

• Sub-grade evaluation

• Frost, drainage and erosion control

• Causes of distress

• Design considerations

• Asphalt binders and their uses

• Influence of asphalt mix designs on the durability of the pavement

Aggregates and their Characteristics

• Specifications

• Quality requirements

• Aggregate gradations

• Specific gravities

• Aggregate batching

• HMA volumetrics

• Selecting design aggregate structures

• Estimating VMA

• Specimen preparation calculations

• Specimen compaction

• Bulk-specific gravity testing

• Theoretical maximum specific gravity testing

Asphalt Mix Design Considerations

• Asphalt cement, emulsions and cutbacks

• Types and applications

• Asphalt cement for hot mix asphalt

• Stability, fatigue and durability considerations

• Volumetric calculations

• Determination of optimum asphalt content

• Moisture damage

• Functional requirements

• Construction considerations

• Quality control

• Mix performance testing

• Marshall and Superpave System

• Demonstration of lab results

Asphalt Binder- SHRP Material Selection

• Test procedures and the meaning of results

• Effects of binder on quality of the mix

• LTPP program and selection of appropriate grade

• Modified procedure

Other Available Resources

• Use of the web to find out about pavements

• Pavement preservation-what it means

• Life cycle costing as it affects the design

• Innovative technologies

Day II

Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Design Requirements

• Mixture properties: selection criteria for various mix types

• Specification requirements for Marshall Mixes

• Specification requirements for Superave

• Mix size and layer thickness range

• SMA mix

• Workshop

Designing Mixtures with RAP

• Binder selection

• Calculations

• Mix properties

Quality Management in the Field

• Marshall testing requirements

• Superpave testing requirements

• Mix problems during production

• Segregation

Resurfacing

• Asphalt overlays for serviceability and strength

• Use of fabrics and grids

Specifications-Mixing, Tests, Spreading and Compaction

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment