ABSTRACT
Mix design is conducted mostly on the basis of consideration of volumetric properties of asphalt mixes. The materials, aggregates and asphalts, are selected on the basis of empirical and/or mechanistic test properties. These properties are considered to ensure that the mix will be resistant against the major distresses-thermal cracking, fatigue cracking, and rutting. Empirical and, in some cases, calibrated mechanistic models are available which relate volumetric properties to levels/amounts of distress. These models are considered to determine appropriate optimum levels of the volumetric and other properties during mix design.
