ABSTRACT
The study presents a performance-based method for designing hot mix asphalt using performance parameters such as air voids, workability, Marshall stability, and Marshall flow that takes aggregate shapes into account. It is based on the idea that aggregate geometry and gradation, as well as other elements in asphalt, such as filler, dust, and bitumen volumes, influence the compacted topology and structural performance of an asphalt mixture. The design method involves extraction of aggregate shape properties using image processing techniques and the use of a physics engine software to estimate the number of aggregates and volume of mastic in a fixed mass of asphalt. The performance parameters are correlated with the number of aggregates and volume of mastic that meet a proposed set of rules. The authors conclude that with knowledge of aggregate geometries, asphalt concrete recipes can be proposed for tailored performances without extensive laboratory testing.
