An experimental investigation of optimal asphalt–aggregate ratio for different compaction methods

• Mechanical behavior of asphalt mixture was investigated.
• Effects of compaction methods on mechanical behavior were evaluated.
• Effects of compaction methods on optimal asphalt–aggregate ratio were evaluated.
• Laboratory tests were carried out to validate the results.

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the optimal asphalt–aggregate (A–A) ratio determination of asphalt mixture. The asphalt mixtures are from a practical construction in Yulin-Suide highway, Shaanxi province of China, which are compacted by the Marshal compaction method (MCM) and the vertical vibration compaction method (VVCM), respectively. The density, percent voids in mineral aggregated (PVMA), Marshall stability, compressive strength, splitting strength and shear strength of asphalt mixtures are respectively studied by series of laboratorial tests. The effects of compaction method on the optimal A–A ratio determination are discussed. The results show that the optimal A–A ratio of vertical vibration compacted asphalt mixture is smaller than the optimal A–A ratio of Marshall compacted asphalt mixture, which should be noticed in the highway construction.