P-401 Mixtures: Aggregate Gradation Bands
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Authors
Aad, Georges
Issue Date
2024
Type
Thesis
Language
Keywords
Aggregate Gradation Bands , Bailey Method , Influence Of Aggregate Gradation On Pavement Performance , P-401 Mixtures
Alternative Title
Abstract
The Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) efficient specifications have delivered high quality airport pavement with good performance since those pavements will endure high load applications. Despite the efficiency of P-401 specifications, challenges arise for mix designers and contractors to meet the aggregate specification limits leading to adjustments that might compromise the volumetric properties of the mixtures and lead to more costs and delays. This research aims to replicate an airport paving project mix design that meets FAA aggregate and mix design specifications. A wide range of performance tests will then be conducted on two gradations, one inside and one outside of the aggregate gradation bands in the FAA specifications to propose more flexible gradation specification limits, focusing on critical sieve sizes and acceptable ranges. In this report, gradations were developed using the Bailey Method and two performance tests have been covered: The IDEAL-CT and the TSR test. The data showed that deviating outside the gradation band specifications on specified sieves for this one mixture resulted in good resistance to moisture damage (without Freeze-Thaw cycling) but the cracking resistance for gradations inside of the gradation bands was better than outside of them. In this case the mixtures possessed very similar volumetric properties (e.g. effective asphalt content and voids in mineral aggregate). The remaining tests (HWTT, Cantabro, I-FIT, DCT and Florida Permeability Test) will be conducted in the near future to recommend adjustments and analyze the influence of aggregate gradation change on performance.