The pavement industry is always looking for new ways to improve the roads we drive on every day. While asphalt is the most recycled product in the world, there are ways to improve it and the processes that are used. Most asphalt mixtures are designed using the Superpave system, but many state Department of Transportation departments have stated that cracking and raving are the biggest factor in the life of their pavement. Asphalt mixtures designed with too much asphalt may be susceptible to rutting, and those with too little asphalt are prone to cracking and pavement distresses.
In a recent article from ForConstructionPros.com, they write that “there has been more of a shift to using a balanced mix design (BMD) approach that focuses on designing asphalt for performance and not just meeting the specified volumetric recipe. And because achieving balanced mixture performance is key to a long-lasting pavement, it’s crucial to know what these mixes are and how they will benefit the industry moving forward.”