1.

Table 1 shows the result of the in situ CBR (California Bearing Ratio) test of the rod-base
layer of the road construction. Based on the result, conduct the analysis to identify either
the road base layer fullfill the requirement of the construction. Use theinformation given
for the analysis:

i. Calibration factor of the dial gauge of proving ring = 0.02 kN/division

ii. Standard load for penetration of 2.5 mm is 13.24 kN and 5.0 mm is 19.96 kN
iii. Minimum CBR value for road base = 80%

Table 1
Dial
Penetration
Gauge Load (kN)
(mm)
(div)
0.00 0 0.00
0.25 40 0.80
0.50 120 2.40
0.75 210 4.20
1.00 300 6.00
1.25 375 7.50
1.50 405 8.10
1.75 450 9.00
2.00 515 10.30
2.25 580 11.60
2.50 620 12.40
2.75 660 13.20
3.00 700 14.00
3.25 735 14.70
3.50 770 15.40
3.75 810 16.20
4.00 830 16.60
4.25 850 17.00
4.50 875 17.50
4.75 900 18.00
5.00 920 18.40

1. Calculate load (kN) Dial gauge (div) x Calibration factor (kN/Div)

(20 rows start from penetration 0.25mm x 0.1 mark = 2 marks)
2. Plot graf load (kN) with penetration (mm)
- Y axis (1 mark)
- X axis (1 mark)
- Correct CBR curve (1 mark)
 20.00
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00

Load (kN)
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
Penetration (mm)

3. Calculate CBR

Load at 2.5 mm = 12.40 kN (0.5 mark)

CBR = (12.40/13.24) x 100 = 93.66 % = 94 % (1 mark)

Load at 5.0 mm = 18.40 kN (0.5 mark)

CBR = (18.40/19.96) x 100 = 92.18 % = 92 % (1 mark)

Summary/conclusion.
CBR for the material is 94 %. Since this value is bigger than the requirement value
which is 80%, the road base layer comply with the requirement. (1 mark)

(9 marks)
Q2. A gradation test was conducted on a sample of aggregate that meets all physical and
mechanical requirements. The aggregate is intended to be used in a Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
design mixture for the wearing course. The results from the sieve analysis are shown in Table 1.
Five blends of design mixtures, with asphalt contents ranging from 4.5 to 6.5%, were then
prepared and assessed. The volumetric data and Marshall test results are shown in Table 2.

Table 1: Results of sieve analysis

Sieve Opening (mm) Mass Retained On Sieve (g)

20 0
14 138.5
10 156.4
5 203.7
3.35 199.3
1.18 220.2
0.425 217.5
0.15 165.3
0.075 140.2
Pan 58.9

Table 2: Volumetric data and Marshall tests results

Density
Asphalt (%) Air Voids (%) VMA (%) Stability (kg) Flow (mm)
(kg/m3)
4.5 2.154 6.3 18.9 1220 2.2
5.0 2.350 5.2 23.9 1385 2.5
5.5 2.418 4.5 22.8 1450 3.7
6.0 2.316 3.9 26.7 1405 4.2
6.5 2.205 3.2 30.8 1350 4.9

1. Are the coarse and fine aggregates adequate for the mixture?
2. Determine the optimum asphalt content and check its suitability.

TASK:
How does aggregate type, density and air voids influence HMA?
What are the consequences of having excessive/insufficient coarse/fine aggregates and
asphalt content in the HMA?
 100

90

80

70
Cummulatve Passing (%)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Sieve Opening (mm)

FILLER FINE AGGREGATE COARSE

AGGREGATE

The fine and coarse aggregate contents (%) are adequate, seeing that the gradation curve is
within the gradation envelope (limits) specified by JKR Standards for Road Works.

Air Stffness
Asphalt Density Voids VMA VFA Stabilit Flow (kg/mm
(%) (kg/m3) (%) (%) (%) y (kg) (mm) )
4.5 2.154 6.3 18.9 66.6 1220 2.2 554.5
5 2.35 5.2 23.9 78.2 1385 2.5 554.0
5.5 2.418 4.5 22.8 80.3 1450 3.7 391.9
6 2.316 3.9 26.7 85.4 1405 4.2 334.5
6.5 2.205 3.2 30.8 89.6 1350 4.9 275.5

Note:
VFA = 100[(VMA-VTM)/VMA]
Stiffness = Stability/Flow
 2.45

2.4

2.35

2.3
Density (kg/m^3)

2.25

2.2

2.15

2.1

2.05

2
4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7

Asphalt content (%)

 7

4
Air voids (%)

0
4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7

Asphalt content (%)

 100

90

80

70

60
VFA (%)

50

40

30

20

10

0
4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7

Asphalt content (%)

 1500

1450

1400

1350
Stability (kg)

1300

1250

1200

1150

1100
4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7

Asphalt content (%)

 6

4
Flow (mm)

0
4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7

Asphalt content (%)

 600

500

400
Stffness (kg/mm)

300

200

100

0
4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7

Asphalt content (%)

 Criteria Asphalt Content
(%)
Maximum density 5.55
Maximum stability 5.7
Maximum flow 5.15
Median of air voids 5.85
specification
Median of VFA specification 4.95
Average 5.44

At 5.44% Asphalt JKR Specification Remarks

(for wearing course)
Stability,N 14350 >8000 ok
Flow (mm) 3.2 2-4 ok
Stiffness (N/mm) 4300 >2000 OK
Air Voids (%) 4.5 3-5 0K
VFA (%) 81 70-80 NOT OK

The optimum asphalt content is -----------------------------------------------

Applying this will result in a mix that meets all requirements in terms of stability, flow, stiffness,
air voids and voids filled with asphalt.

Q3:
(a) THE BITUMINOUS MIXTURE NEEDS THE PROPORTION OF MATERIAL
25:25:46:04 WITH THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF 2.252, 2.263, 2.266 AND 2.321
RESPECTIVELY. BASED ON THE PROPORTION AND SPECIFIC GRAVITY,
CALCULATE THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY FOR THE MIXTURE.

100
SGMIX = 25 25 46 4 (EQUATION - 2 MARKS)
+ + +
2.252 2.263 2.266 2.321

= 2.264 (CORRECT ANSWER - 2 MARKS)

(4 marks)

(d) Glassphalt use a waste glass as a part of aggregate. Based on question Q1(c), half of the
46% aggregate substitute with the waste glass. The specific gravity of the waste glass is
2.272. Calculate specific gravity of the mixture.
 100
SGmix = 25 25 23 23 4 (Equation - 2 marks)
+ + + +
2.252 2.263 2.266 2.272 2.321

= 2.265 (Correct answer - 2 marks)

Q4

An asphalt concrete mix contains 2220 kg of aggregate and 180 kg of asphalt binder per
m3. Asphalt absorption of the aggregates is 1.2%. The bulk relative density of the
aggregates and asphalt are 2.67, and the relative density of the asphalt is 1.05.

Find the asphalt content, PB, effective asphalt content, PBE and asphalt
absorption PBA. Given the density of the asphalt concrete mix is 2400 kg/m3.

M BA = 2220*(1.2/100) = 26.64 kg(1 mark)

M BE =180-26.64=153.36 kg(1 mark)
MB
PB =
asphalt content, M = (180/2400)*100 = 7.5%(1 mark)
M BE
PBE =
effective asphalt content, M = (153.36/2400)*100= 6.39%(1 mark)
M BA
PBA =
asphalt absorption, MG = (26.64/2200)*100 = 1.2%(2 mark)

(5 marks)
Calculate void in mineral aggregate (VMA) and void filled with asphalt (VFA). Given
the air void is 2.3 %.

VBE=153.36/(1.05*1000) =0.146(1 mark)

VG=2220/(2.67*1000) =0.831 (1 mark)
V A =V ( V G +V BE )
Volume of air between coated in mix,
V A =1( 0 . 831+0. 146 )=0 . 023m 3 (1 mark)So, void in mineral aggregate,
( V BE + V A )
VMA=
V = [(0.146 + 0.023)/1]*100 = 16.9 % (1 mark)
V BE 0 . 146
VFA= = x(100 )
void filled with asphalt, ( V BE +V A ) ( 0 .146+0 .023 )
= 86.4%(2 mark)