Effects of Mixture Parameters on Hma Performance Properties: a Holistic Approach That Leads to Optimization of Asphalt Mixtures

Asphalt pavements are composed of three components: aggregate, asphalt binder, and air. The author identified aggregate gradation, binder content, and air voids content as the fundamental parameters. These factors are interwoven in a mix design; therefore, confounding the designed mixture's performance properties. The author skillfully separated their effects on performance through well-designed experiments and quantified them by using statistical models. Three performances were examined: permanent deformation, tensile cracking, and moisture susceptibility, providing all-around evaluations of the effects of the fundamental parameters. This is a holistic approach-putting 3 parameters and 3 key performances in one picture and avoiding drawbacks of making conclusions from a partial context. Therefore, a true performance of a HMA mixture can be comprehensively evaluated and predicted. The book is suited for students, scholars, and industry practitioners, bringing tremendous insights into this topic. It provides new research findings, confirmations of previous studies, and corrections to some widely accepted myths. With the knowledge in this book, mix design methods can be optimized.