ASPHALT MIX DESIGN EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Aggregate Sources - CORRECT ANSWER -Stone Deposits & Sand and Gravel Deposits
Stone deposits - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Hard deposits - requires blasting & crushing -
2. Sedimentary -
3. Igneous -
4. Metamorphic
Sand & Gravel Deposits - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Loose deposits -
2. Mined or Dredged
Sedimentary rocks - CORRECT ANSWER -
sediments consolidated by chemical action: limestone & Dolomite. (70% of crushed stone prod
uction)
Igneous rocks - CORRECT ANSWER -
solidification of magma or lava: granite and trap rocks (22% of crushed stone production)
Metamorphic rocks - CORRECT ANSWER -
Existing rocks subjected to heat and pressure within the earth: marble, quartzite, gneiss
% of aggregates in concrete vs asphalt - CORRECT ANSWER -Concrete: 70% -
Asphalt: 94% aggregate by volume
Mineral aggregates - CORRECT ANSWER -
Solids, definite chemical composition, crystal structure, natural.
,Naturally occurring aggregates are made of minerals
Synthetic or byproduct aggregates - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. Slag (byproduct of steel production: ABS, GBS) -
2. Foundry sand (Byproduct of metal casting)
Aggregate processing properties - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Size distribution (Gradation) -
2. Surface texture -
3. Shape -
4. Cleanliness (Clay fines)
Hardrock mining - CORRECT ANSWER -1. remove overburden -
2. blasting -
3. crushing -
4. screening
Sand and gravel puts - CORRECT ANSWER -1. less expensive -
2. dry mining or underwater dredging -
3. extracted material washed -
4. screening
Crushing by energy & Gradation - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. Abrasion : large coarse particle size and fine, no good distribution in particle size -
2. Cleavage: Smaller coarse size that abrasion, but more particle size distribution -
3. Shatter: smaller coarse size that both, but more particle size distribution
Segregation - CORRECT ANSWER -1. at Conveyer belt due to vibration -
, 2. in stockpiles due to gravity
Maximum aggregate size - CORRECT ANSWER -
smallest sieve opening through which the entire amount pass
Nominal Max Size - CORRECT ANSWER -
One sieve size larger than the first size to retain more than a specific amount
Control points in gradation graph - CORRECT ANSWER -
Depends on type of mix (S1, S2...) & nominal max aggregate size
Types of gradation - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Dense graded, -
2. gap graded -
3. open graded
why do we use 0.45 power chart for sieve analysis - CORRECT ANSWER -
(Gradation size mm)^0.45 is an easy number
Restricted zone in sieve analysis - CORRECT ANSWER -
Poorly graded: deform under load and not enough interlock due to angularity
What is VMA? - CORRECT ANSWER -Voids in Mineral Aggregates
Why do we need VMA in asphalt mixes? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Binder will cover aggregates and fill some voids. Low VMA: No enough space for binder to go b
etween aggregates
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Aggregate Sources - CORRECT ANSWER -Stone Deposits & Sand and Gravel Deposits
Stone deposits - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Hard deposits - requires blasting & crushing -
2. Sedimentary -
3. Igneous -
4. Metamorphic
Sand & Gravel Deposits - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Loose deposits -
2. Mined or Dredged
Sedimentary rocks - CORRECT ANSWER -
sediments consolidated by chemical action: limestone & Dolomite. (70% of crushed stone prod
uction)
Igneous rocks - CORRECT ANSWER -
solidification of magma or lava: granite and trap rocks (22% of crushed stone production)
Metamorphic rocks - CORRECT ANSWER -
Existing rocks subjected to heat and pressure within the earth: marble, quartzite, gneiss
% of aggregates in concrete vs asphalt - CORRECT ANSWER -Concrete: 70% -
Asphalt: 94% aggregate by volume
Mineral aggregates - CORRECT ANSWER -
Solids, definite chemical composition, crystal structure, natural.
,Naturally occurring aggregates are made of minerals
Synthetic or byproduct aggregates - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. Slag (byproduct of steel production: ABS, GBS) -
2. Foundry sand (Byproduct of metal casting)
Aggregate processing properties - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Size distribution (Gradation) -
2. Surface texture -
3. Shape -
4. Cleanliness (Clay fines)
Hardrock mining - CORRECT ANSWER -1. remove overburden -
2. blasting -
3. crushing -
4. screening
Sand and gravel puts - CORRECT ANSWER -1. less expensive -
2. dry mining or underwater dredging -
3. extracted material washed -
4. screening
Crushing by energy & Gradation - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. Abrasion : large coarse particle size and fine, no good distribution in particle size -
2. Cleavage: Smaller coarse size that abrasion, but more particle size distribution -
3. Shatter: smaller coarse size that both, but more particle size distribution
Segregation - CORRECT ANSWER -1. at Conveyer belt due to vibration -
, 2. in stockpiles due to gravity
Maximum aggregate size - CORRECT ANSWER -
smallest sieve opening through which the entire amount pass
Nominal Max Size - CORRECT ANSWER -
One sieve size larger than the first size to retain more than a specific amount
Control points in gradation graph - CORRECT ANSWER -
Depends on type of mix (S1, S2...) & nominal max aggregate size
Types of gradation - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Dense graded, -
2. gap graded -
3. open graded
why do we use 0.45 power chart for sieve analysis - CORRECT ANSWER -
(Gradation size mm)^0.45 is an easy number
Restricted zone in sieve analysis - CORRECT ANSWER -
Poorly graded: deform under load and not enough interlock due to angularity
What is VMA? - CORRECT ANSWER -Voids in Mineral Aggregates
Why do we need VMA in asphalt mixes? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Binder will cover aggregates and fill some voids. Low VMA: No enough space for binder to go b
etween aggregates
