Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Advisor 1
Zhanping You
Committee Member 1
Shihui Shen
Committee Member 2
Robert M. Handler
Abstract
Traditional volumetric asphalt mix design methods, such as Superpave, frequently struggle to address critical performance parameters, leading many agencies to seek more robust approaches. Balanced Mix Design (BMD) has emerged as a forward-looking alternative by directly measuring rutting and cracking resistance in the laboratory. In this study, BMD principles were applied to asphalt mixtures featuring three distinct NMAS mixes and two high content rubber mixes, introduced through both dry and semi-wet processes. Compared with conventional volumetric constraints, BMD provided greater flexibility in adjusting binder content and gradation to accommodate elevated crumb-rubber levels. The resulting mixtures satisfied both rutting and cracking thresholds more consistently than those designed under Superpave criteria, demonstrating BMD’s capability to integrate substantial recycled materials without compromising performance. The successful utilization of up to 24% crumb rubber underscores the potential for higher waste-tire reuse in asphalt pavements, contributing to circular economy targets. In parallel, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) were leveraged to calculate the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of each BMD-optimized mixture. By aligning GWP analyses with mechanical performance tests, the study introduces preliminary GWP threshold values tied to BMD criteria. This approach ensures that mixtures achieving balanced resistance to rutting and cracking also align with broader environmental objectives, such as reducing carbon footprints in infrastructure projects. The findings thus highlight BMD’s dual benefits: it not only optimizes mechanical performance but also accommodates sustainability imperatives, surpassing the limitations of purely volumetric methods. Taken as a whole, this research positions BMD as a versatile, future-oriented framework for the design of high-performing, low-impact asphalt pavements.
Recommended Citation
Xin, Kai, "INNOVATIONS IN BALANCED MIX DESIGN: ESTABLISHING GWP THRESHOLDS FOR VARIOUS NMAS AND EVALUATING SUPERPAVE VS. BMD IN HIGH CONTENT RUBBER ASPHALT", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2025.