Aashto M325-2012
Aashto M325-2012
Aashto M325-2012
1. SCOPE
1.1. This specification covers the design of Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) using the Superpave gyratory
compactor (SGC). The SMA design is based on the volumetric properties of the SMA in terms of
air voids (Va), the voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), and the presence of stone-on-stone contact.
1.2. This standard specifies minimum quality requirements for asphalt binder, aggregate, mineral filler,
and stabilizing additives for SMA mixture designs.
1.3. The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The U.S. Customary units in
parentheses are for information only.
1.4. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use.
It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
2.1. AASHTO Standards:
M 320, Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder
M 323, Superpave Volumetric Mix Design
R 46, Designing Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA)
T 85, Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
T 89, Determining the Liquid Limit of Soils
T 90, Determining the Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index of Soils
T 96, Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in
the Los Angeles Machine
T 104, Soundness of Aggregate by Use of Sodium Sulfate or Magnesium Sulfate
T 283, Resistance of Compacted Asphalt Mixtures to Moisture-Induced Damage
T 305, Determination of Draindown Characteristics in Uncompacted Asphalt Mixtures
T 312, Preparing and Determining the Density of Asphalt Mixture Specimens by Means of the
Superpave Gyratory Compactor
3. TERMINOLOGY
3.1. stone matrix asphalt (SMA)—a hot mix asphalt (HMA) consisting of two parts, a coarse aggregate
skeleton and a rich asphalt binder mortar. The mixture must have an aggregate skeleton with
coarse aggregate-on-coarse aggregate contact (generally referred to as stone-on-stone contact).
The coarse aggregate is generally considered to be that fraction of the aggregate retained on the
4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve but may be designated as other sizes.
3.2. air voids (Va)—the total volume of the small pockets of air between the coated aggregate particles
throughout a compacted paving mixture, expressed as a percent of the bulk volume of the
compacted paving mixture (Note 1).
Note 1—Term defined in the Asphalt Institute Publication MS-2.
3.3. voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA)—the volume of the intergranular void space between the
aggregate particles of a compacted paving mixture that includes the air voids and the effective
binder content, expressed as a percent of the total volume of the specimen (Note 1).
3.4. voids in the coarse aggregate (VCA)—the volume between the coarse aggregate particles. This
volume includes filler, fine aggregate, air voids, asphalt binder, and stabilizing additive (if used).
3.5. SMA mortar—a mixture of asphalt binder, filler [material passing the 0.075-mm (No. 200) sieve],
and stabilizing additive.
6. AGGREGATE REQUIREMENTS
6.1. Aggregates used in SMA shall conform to the requirements listed below.
6.1.1. Coarse Aggregate—Coarse aggregates shall be 100 percent crushed and conform to the quality
requirements of Table 1.
6.1.2. Fine Aggregate—Fine aggregates shall be 100 percent crushed and conform to the quality
requirements of Table 2.
7. MINERAL FILLER
7.1. Mineral filler shall consist of finely divided mineral matter such as crusher fines and fly ash.
At the time of use, it should be sufficiently dry to flow freely and essentially free from
agglomerations. Filler shall be free from organic impurities and have a plasticity index not
greater than four.
Note 2—It is recommended that mineral fillers with modified Rigden voids (IS 127) higher
than 50 percent not be used in SMA. Experience has shown that fillers exceeding 50 percent
excessively stiffen the SMA mortar.
8. STABILIZING ADDITIVE
8.1. A stabilizer such as cellulose or mineral fiber will be added to the mixture. The dosage rate for
cellulose shall be approximately 0.3 percent or more by total mixture mass and sufficient to
prevent draindown. For mineral fibers, the dosage rate shall be approximately 0.4 percent by total
mixture mass and sufficient to prevent draindown. The maximum draindown will be 0.3 percent
by weight of the mix when held at the plant temperature for 1 h.
Note 3—If the draindown from the plant-produced samples exceeds the draindown from
laboratory-prepared samples, the quantity of the stabilizer should be increased. To maximize
durability (through binder volume), fibers also can be added regardless of draindown.
9.2. The designed SMA mixture shall meet the requirements of Table 4.
Note 4—For low-traffic-volume roadways or colder climates, target air void contents less than
4.0 percent can be used, but should not be less than 3.0 percent.
Note 5—When aggregates have a Los Angeles abrasion loss value greater than 30 percent, the
desirable number of SGC design gyrations is 75.
Note 6—See R 46 for instructions on calculating VCAMIX and VCADRC.
Note 7—Experience has shown that binder contents should be from 6.0 to 7.0 percent. Lowering
the binder content below 6.0 percent can detrimentally affect the durability of the SMA. When an
SMA mix cannot be designed within the minimum binder content requirements of Table 4 using
the available aggregates, refer to the guidance given on this issue in R 46.
9.4. Draindown sensitivity shall be determined on the SMA mixture in accordance with T 305 at the
anticipated plant-production temperature and shall not exceed 0.3 percent.
1
Formerly AASHTO Provisional Standard MP 8. First published as a full standard in 2008.