Analyzing an efficient mix design for the production of quality asphalt concrete: A means of reducing roads’ maintenance cost

Abstract

Poor road design is the bedrock for strength deformation and formation of potholes in road pavement systems. The best choice of aggregates for asphalt concrete production contributes significantly to road pavement stability, sustainability, and durability at its serviceability life- style. The use of critical design and analysis techniques for the production of asphalt concrete is one of the standard means of eradicating the defect of roads’ pavement deformation in the global construction industries. This study reveals the hidden knowledge about the standard formulation and mix design required for producing durable asphaltic concrete pavements. In the experiment, three different mix designs were used to make quality asphalt concrete for the road’s binder pavement construction. This was done to ascertain the best quality ag- gregates required to produce durable asphalt concrete to construct binder road’s pavement. Also, the aggregates used for the production of quality asphalt concrete for the construction of road’s wearing course pavements were formulated using two mix designs. The results of the experiments proved that the asphalt concrete made with the aggregate formulated for the binder course from the first mix design yielded the best outcome, which is suggested for the global production of quality and standard asphalt concrete for road’ binder pavements’ con- struction. Although the formulated aggregates for the wearing course’s asphalt production were made from the two mix designs, however, the obtained results from the first mix design were satisfactory fell within the specified limits. This made it the best mix design for indus- trial practice. In addition, the accuracy and efficiency of the results obtained relied so much on the standard of estimation made to produce quality asphalt concrete, which cost up to $270,830.00 at Chainages 26 + 700 to 26 + 925. All the experimental results proved that ap- plication of standard aggregates’ mix design in road pavement construction helps in prevent- ing the problems of deformation, cracks, and other defects on the roads’ pavement system. Also, applying the first formulated mix design used in this study will help in maintaining the sustainable, durable, stable, and flexible road pavement in the global communities. Likewise, the government's constant expenditure on road pavement maintenance will be reduced.