Asphalt Engineering Notes – 3510 – Civil Materials – Mix Design, PG Grading, Aging, Recycling

This document offers an in-depth, structured review of asphalt materials and behavior, tailored for the Asphalt Engineering (3510) course in Civil Engineering, Construction Materials, or Transportation Infrastructure programs. It is ideal for students at the undergraduate or graduate level preparing for midterms, finals, or professional certification exams focused on asphalt pavement technology. The content provides clear, detailed explanations of asphalt mix types—dense graded, open graded, SMA, sand, and sheet mixes—alongside a comparison between asphalt and Portland cement concrete. It delves into binder types (asphalt cement, emulsions, cutbacks), production methods (e.g., fractional distillation, emulsion chemistry, curing grades), and their environmental considerations. Crucially, the document explains the Superpave Performance Grading (PG) system, including laboratory test methods like the Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) and Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) for simulating short- and long-term aging. You'll also find descriptions of key rheological properties (e.g., viscosity, phase angle δ, creep stiffness) and testing instruments such as the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR). The mix design section is especially comprehensive, covering performance factors such as resistance to rutting, fatigue, thermal cracking, moisture susceptibility, skid resistance, durability, and workability. It concludes with a discussion on asphalt recycling methods (surface, plant mix) and sustainability benefits. Perfect for anyone studying or reviewing topics in pavement design, bituminous materials, or materials testing, this guide emphasizes exam-relevant theory and practical performance specifications. Keywords: asphalt types, dense graded mix, stone matrix asphalt, PG grading, Superpave, binder aging, viscosity, dynamic shear rheometer, rolling thin film oven, PAV aging, fatigue cracking, rutting resistance, thermal cracking, asphalt durability, moisture susceptibility, asphalt recycling, bitumen properties, asphalt vs concrete, civil engineering exam, pavement materials