Proceedings, XVth Seminar of Ivan Poliaek, Road network management and PPP projects,

18-19th November, 2010, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Mix design nomograph for recycled hot bituminous

mixtures
Klmn Adorjnyi
Istvn Szchenyi University, Gyr, Hungary
e-mail:adorjany@sze.hu
Abstract
The mix design of recycled hot bituminous mixes involves proportioning of new
binder and reclaimed binder along with aggregate blend design. The total binder
proportioning in the recycled mix can be made by penetration base or by
softening point base according to European product standards.
The paper presents unique nomographs for determining blending proportions of
binders and aggregates in one step for different cases of binder properties. For
verification of nomographs numerical examples are given.

Introduction
The binder characteristics (viscosity, penetration, softening point) of recycled
bituminous mixtures are determined by the properties and mass proportions of added
binder and the recovered binder from the reclaimed asphalt. In European product
standards the binder properties are regulated either with penetration or by softening
point (by viscosity in case of soft mixtures). The reclaimed asphalt content in the total
mixture is not specified in the European product standards (EN 13108-17) but the
regulation of binder property depends on the type of asphalt course and the
reclaimed asphalt content. The calculation of penetration or softening point of the
total binder is specified when the reclaimed asphalt content is more than 10% for
surface courses or more than 20% for regulating courses binder courses and bases.
The calculation method given in the normative Annex of product standards is based
on the assumption that the total binder is a mix of added binder and the reclaimed
binder and the log (penetration) or softening point is the average weighted with mass
percents [1], [2], [3]. In Hungarian technical specifications the parameter of total
binder is regulated by softening point [4]. As the recycled mixture also contains
reclaimed aggregates, simultaneous satisfaction of grading requirements for total
aggregates and requirements for total binder can be achieved either
a) setting the mass percent of the added binder in total binder constant (further
binder ratio) while the mass percent of reclaimed aggregate in the total aggregate
(further aggregate ratio) is varied; or
b) setting the mass percent of reclaimed aggregate in total aggregate constant while
the mass percent of added binder in total binder is varied.
In this paper different nomographs are shown demonstrating these two cases both
for penetration and softening point of the total binder. The penetration or softening
point of total binder can be determined in the upper part of the chart, while the
aggregates proportions can be determined in its lower part.

Design with constant binder ratio

In first case the binder content B% in the recycled mix is obtained from Xb% and Xa%
(see Figure-1).
Starting data:

Proceedings, XVth Seminar of Ivan Poliaek, Road network management and PPP projects,
18-19th November, 2010, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

30

120
100
80

pn

p0

160
120
100
80

B
D

60
50
40

60
50
40
30

30

20

20

20

15

15

15

15

100

80

60

5
4

80

20

Figure-1 Principle of composition

regulation nomograph

Xa%

3
40

40

20

6
7
8
9
10

3
0

10
9
8
7
6

20

B0

10

40

60

60

100

80

10
9
8
7
6

H
6
7
8
9
10

10
3

4
5

Xb%

10
60

40

20

100

10

100

pn

20

B0

160

120
100
80

Xb%

160

60
50
40
30

80

p0

160
120
100
80
60
50
40

Figure-2 Regulation of penetration with

constant binder ratio

penetration p0 or softening point lp0 of the binder recovered from the reclaimed
asphalt;
penetration pn or softening point lpn of the added binder;
percent added binder in total binder, Xb%;
percent added aggregate in total aggregate, Xa%;
binder content in reclaimed asphalt, B0%;
Resulting data:
penetration of total binder, p;
binder content of recycled mixture, B%.
Figure-1 shows the usage of the monograph in the following steps.
Set the penetration value of p0=20 (point A) on the upper left vertical axle and the
penetration value of pn= 65 (point B) on the upper right vertical axle, draw a straight
line between points A and B. Set the value of Xb% =60% on the horizontal Xb% axle
(point C), set point D from here on the line AB, draw a horizontal line from point D
and find the value of p= 40,6 for total binder penetration on the vertical axle. Next set
the value of Xa% =55% (point F) on the lower horizontal axle Xa%, connect points C
and F, find intersection point G on the diagonal (Xa% =100% Xb% =100%). Set the
value of B0%=5,0% (point H), on the vertical left lower axle than draw a line through
point G, and find the value of B%=5,59% (point I). Other examples are demonstrated
below ignoring detailed description because the usage of nomograph is similar to this
case.

X a%

Proceedings, XVth Seminar of Ivan Poliaek, Road network management and PPP projects,
18-19th November, 2010, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
.
80

80

70

70

80

70

lpn

lp0

70
A

lp0

lpn
F

60

80

60

60

60
G

D
E
50

E
50

50

50

Xb

5
4

G
0

3
20

40

60

80

100

Figure-3 Softening point regulation with

constant binder ratio

Xa
%

80

60

100
10
9
8 B
7

T
L

S
R

6
5

3
0

5
6
7
8
9
10

6
7
8
9
10

Bo

20

40

10
9
8 B
7

60

K
30

40

100

80

60

40

20

I
30

30

20

30

40
B

100

Xb

Bo

40

40

80

40

Figure-4 Softening point regulation with

constant aggregate ratio

In the second example the value of Xb% is constant and aggregate ratio Xa% is
varied. The result is the penetration p of the total binder and the range of total binder
content B% in the recycled mixture (see Figure-2).
Starting data: p0=30 (point A), pn =80 (point B), B0%= 6,0% (point H), Xb% = 55%=
constant (point C), Xa%=55%-65% (points G, F) is the range of variation.
Resulting data:
penetration of the binder in the recycled mixture, p=51,5 (point E);
range of binder content in the recycled mixture, B%=4,73%-6,00% (points L, K);
By an alternative of this example setting range of B% range of Xa% can be obtained
similarly. In the third example the value of Xb% is constant and Xa% is varied. The
result will be the softening point lp of total binder and the range of binder content B%
in the recycled mixture (see Figure-3).
Starting data: lp0=60 (point A), lpn =45 (point B), B0%= 5,5% (point F), Xb% = 40%=
constant (point C), Xa% is varied in the range of 30%-40% (points G, H) .
Resulting data:
softening point of the binder in the recycled mixture, lp=54 (point E);
range of binder content in the recycled mixture, B%=5,5%-6,36% (points L, K);
As an alternative of this example setting range of B% range of Xa% can be obtained
similarly.

Xa
%

Proceedings, XVth Seminar of Ivan Poliaek, Road network management and PPP projects,
18-19th November, 2010, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

p0

160

160

120
100
80

120
100
80

60
50
40

F G

I
J
K

30
A

20

10

10
9
8
7
6

4
5

6
7
8
9
10

lp0=65 (point A), lpn =40 (point B),

B0%=6,0% (point L),
Xa%=30%=constant (point P),
B% = 5,2%-5,7%-6,2% (points O,
N, M).

100

60

40

20

E
80

10

O
4

20

40

3
60

80

100

In the fourth example the value of

Xa% is constant and B% is the
varied, so range of the softening
point lp of total binder and the
possible range of Xb% can be
obtained (see Figure-4).
Starting data:

15

B0

pn

20

15

Xb%

60
50
40
30

Design with constant

aggregate ratio

Resulting data:
the range of binder softening
point in the recycled mixture will be
varied in the range of lp=60,4-58,556,9 (points F, G, H) according to
varied binder content B% ;
the range of binder ratio Xb% will
be Xb%=18,5%-26,1%-32,4%
(points I, J, K), according to binder
content ;

X a%

Figure-5 Regulation of penetration with

constant aggregate ratio
By another alternative of this example giving the range of Xb% the range of B% and
the range softening points lp can be obtained.
In the fifth example with constant value of Xa% and with varied value of B% the
penetration range of total binder and the range of binder ratio Xb% can be obtained
(see Figure-5).
Starting data: p0=25 (point A), pn=70 (point B), B0%= 5,8% (point L),
Xa%=60%=constant (point P) and the range of B% = 4,5%-5,0%-5,5% (points O, N,
M).
Resulting data:
the penetration of binder in the recycled mixture will be varied in the range of
p=40,9-43,2-45,3 (points K, J, I ), according to variation range of B%;
the range of binder ratio Xb% will be 47,7%-53,2%-57,7% (points C, D, E)according
to variation range of B%.
As an alternative of this example giving the range of Xb% the range of B% and the
range penetration can be obtained.

Verification
The numerical verification of nomographs is demonstrated in Table 1 with third and
fourth examples using formulas (1)-(4) published by D.E. Edge. Using original names
of symbols the percent added aggregate in the recycled mix keeping binder ratio
constant [5]:

Proceedings, XVth Seminar of Ivan Poliaek, Road network management and PPP projects,
18-19th November, 2010, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

100 R
R
Pb
Pns = 100
+
100
Psb

(1)

As well as the added binder content of recycled mixture keeping aggregate ratio
constant:

Pnb =

( 100 2 Psb r ) Pb ( 100 r ) Psb

100 ( 100 Psb )

100 Psb

(2)

The binder ratio is:

R = 100 Pnb / Pb

(3)

where:
a percent added aggregate in the recycled mixture, %;
binder content of the reclaimed asphalt, m/m%;
percent binder content in the recycled mixture, m/m%;
R
binder ratio, %;
Pnb percent added binder content in the recycled mixture, %;
r
aggregate ratio, %.

Pns
Psb
Pb

Table-1 Results of numerical verification of nomographs

Example-3: binder ratio is constant
Comment
X
%=R%=
constant
40
40
40
b
Input
B0%= Psb%
5,5
5,5
5,5
data
Xa% =30%-40% variable
30
35
40
From
Results B% =Pb%
6,36
5,93
5,5
formula(1)
Example-4: aggregate ratio is constant
B%
=Pb%
5,2
5,7
6,2
Input
X
%
=
constant
30
30
30
a
data
B0% = Psb%
6,0
6,0
6,0
From formulae
Results Xb% =R% variable
18,5
26,1
32,4
(2) and (3)
Referenced literature
[1]

EN 13108-1:2006 Bituminous mixtures-material specifications-Part 1: Asphalt concrete,

CEN, 2006

[2]

Bitumen und Asphalt Taschenbuch, Ed. Wiebel G.M.F., Fuhrmann W., Bauverlag
GmbH Wiesbaden Berlin, 1964.

[3]

Standard Test Method for Preparation of Viscosity Blends for Hot Recycled Bituminous
Materials. ASTM Designation: D-4887-89

[4]

T 2-3.301-1:2010 tptsi aszfaltkeverkek. Aszfaltbeton (AC). tgyi mszaki

elrs, MAT, Budapest, 2010.

[5]

Duane E. Edge. Mix design formulas for recycled hot-asphalt plant mixtures. Civil
Engineering ASCE, December, 1981, pp. 63-65.