A rational asphalt concrete (ac) mix design and analysis methodology was developed. The term "rational" meant that the material properties evaluatedin the mixture design and analysis could be used with a layered-elastic pavement model and mechanistic-empirical formulations that relate to pavement performance. The procedures proposed in this study were intended to be used in conjunction with the current texas state department of highways and public transportation method of mix design in a complementary fashion. Three major modes of pavement distress--(a) rutting, (b) flexural fatigue, and (c) low-temperature cracking--were addressed. In addition to mixture properties, structural arrangement of pavement layers and environmental factorshave significant effects on the performance of ac mixtures. Therefore, a comprehensive mix design should not be performed independent of pavement structural design. Asphalt mix design and pavement structural design parameters were brought together in an integrated fashion. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1269, Asphalt mix materials and mixtures 1990.
Abstract