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ITEM 307 – BITUMINOUS PLANT-MIX SURFACE COURSE – GENERAL


307.1 Description
This item includes general requirements that are applicable to all types of bituminous plant mix surface courses irrespective of gradation of aggregate or kind and amount of bituminous material. Derivations from these general requirements will be indicated in the specific requirements for each type.
This work shall consist of constructing one or more bituminous bound layers on a prepared foundation in accordance with the Specifications and the specific requirements of the type under contract, and in reasonably close conformity with the lines, grades, thickness, and typical cross-sections shown on the Plans within the tolerances specified or established by the Engineer.
307.2 Material Requirements
307.2.1 Composition and Quality of Bituminous Mixture
(Job-Mix Formula). The bituminous mixture shall be composed of aggregate, mineral filler, hydrated lime, and bituminous material.
 At least three weeks prior to production, the Contractor shall submit in writing a job-mix formula for each mixture supported by laboratory test data along with samples and sources of the components and viscosity-temperature relationships information to the Engineer for testing and approval.
Each job-mix formula submitted shall propose definite single values for:
1. The percentage of aggregate passing each specified sieve size.
2. The percentage of bituminous material to be added.
3. The temperature of the mixture delivered on the road.
4. The kind and percentage of additive to be used.
5. The kind and percentage of mineral filler to be used.
After the job-mix is established, all mixture furnished for the project shall conform thereto within the following ranges of tolerances:
Passing No. 4 and larger sieves                           ± 7 percent
Passing No. 8 to No. 100 sieves (inclusive)       ± 4 percent
Passing No. 200 sieve                                            ± 2 percent
Bituminous Material                                                ± 0.4 percent
Temperature of Mixture                                           ± 100C
Should a change in source of material be proposed or should a job-mix formula prove unsatisfactory, a new job-mix formula shall be submitted by the Contractor in writing and be approved by the Engineer prior to production.
Approval of a new job mix formula may require laboratory testing and verification.
The mixture shall have a minimum compressive strength of 1.4 MPa.
The mixture shall have a mass percent air voids with the range of 3 to 5.
The mixture shall also have an index of retained strength of not less than70 when tested by AASHTO T 165. For aggregates having maximum sizes over 25 mm, AASHTO T 165 will be modified to use 150 mm x 150 mm cylindrical specimens. The 150 mm (cylinders will be compacted by the procedures outlined in AASHTO T 167 modified to employ 10 repetitions of a molding load of 9.6 MPa, with no appreciable holding time after each application of the full load.
307.2.2 Bituminous Material
The kind of bituminous material to be used will be as called for in the Bill of Quantities, while the type and grade will be specified in the Special Provisions. The grade may be changed one step by the Engineer at no change in unit price. It shall conform to the applicable requirements of Item 702, Bituminous Materials.
307.2.3 Aggregates
Aggregates shall conform to the applicable requirements of Item 703, Aggregates.
307.2.4 Mineral Filler
It shall conform to the requirements of Item 703 A, Mineral Filler.
307.2.5 Hydrated Lime
It shall conform to the requirements of Item 701, Construction Lime.
307.2.6 Proportioning of Mixture 
The proportion of bituminous material, on the basis of total dry aggregate, shall be from 5.0 to 8.0 mass percent. The exact percentage to be used shall be fixed by the Engineer in accordance with job-mix formula and other quality control requirements.
Hydrated lime shall be added to the mixture during the mixing operation in the amount of one-half to one (0.5 to 1.0) mass percent, dry aggregate basis. The lower percentage limit is applicable to aggregates which are predominantly calcareous.
307.3 Construction Requirements
307.3.1 Weather Limitations
Bituminous Plant mix shall not be placed on any wet surface, or when weather conditions would prevent the proper handling or finishing of the bituminous mixtures.
307.3.2 Construction Equipment
1. Bituminous Mixing Plant
Sufficient storage space shall be provided for each size of aggregate. The different aggregate sizes shall be kept separated until they have been delivered to the cold elevator feeding the drier. The storage yard shall be maintained neat and orderly and the separate stockpiles shall be readily accessible for sampling.
Plants used for the preparation of bituminous mixtures shall conform to the requirements for all plants under (a) below except that scale requirements shall apply only where weight proportioning is used. In addition, batch mixing plants and continuous mixing plants shall conform to the respective requirements which follow this Subsection.
a. Requirements for all Plants.
Mixing plants shall be of sufficient capacity and coordinated to adequately handle the proposed bituminous construction.
1. Plant Scales. Scales shall be accurate to 0.5 percent of the maximum load that may be required. Poises shall be designed to be locked in any position to prevent unauthorized change of position. In lieu of plant and truck scales, the Contractor may provide an approved automatic printer system which will print the weights of the material delivered, provided the system is used in conjunction with an approved automatic batching and mixing control system. Such weights shall be evidenced by a weight ticket for each load.
Scales shall be inspected and sealed as often as the Engineer may deem necessary to assure their continued accuracy. The Contractor shall have on hand not less than ten 20-kg weights for testing the scales.
2. Equipment for Preparation of Bituminous Material. Tanks for the storage of bituminous material shall be equipped with the proper devices to heat and hold the material at the required temperatures. The heating shall be accomplished by steam coils, electricity, or other approved means so that no flame shall be in contact with the tank. The circulating system for the bituminous material shall be designed to assure proper and continuous circulation during the operating period. Provision shall be made for measuring and sampling storage tanks.
3. Feeder for Drier. The plant shall be provided with accurate mechanical means for uniformly feeding the aggregate into the drier so that uniform production and temperature will be obtained.
4. Drier. The plant shall include a drier or driers which continuously agitate during the heating and drying process. For cold-type bituminous mix, equipment for mechanical cooling of the dried aggregate to the temperature prescribed for cold mixtures shall be provided and shall be capable of supplying prepared material for the mixer to operate at full capacity.
5. Screens. Plant screens, capable of screening all aggregate to the specified sizes and proportions and having normal capacities in excess of the full capacity of the mixer, shall be provided.
6. Bins. The plant shall include storage bins of sufficient capacity to supply the mixer when it is operating at full capacity. Bins shall be arranged to assure separate and adequate storage of appropriate fractions of the mineral aggregates. Separate dry storage shall be provided for filler or hydrated lime when used and the plant shall be equipped to feed such material into the mixer. Each bin shall be provided with overflow pipes, of such size and at such locations as to prevent backing up of material into other compartments or bins. Each compartment shall be provided with individual outlet gate, constructed so that when closed, there shall be no leakage. The gates shall cutoff quickly and completely. Bins shall be so constructed that samples can be readily obtained. Bins shall be equipped with adequate tell-tale devices to indicate the position of the aggregates in the bins at the lower quarter points.
7. Bituminous Control Gate. Satisfactory means, either by weighing or metering, shall be provided to obtain the proper amount of bituminous material in the mix within the tolerance specified. Means shall be provided for checking the quantity or rate of flow of bituminous material into the mixer.
8. Thermometric Equipment. An armored thermometric of adequate range in temperature reading shall be fixed in the bituminous feed line at a suitable location near the charging valve at the mixer unit. The plant shall also be equipped with either an approved dial-scale, mercury-actuated thermometer, an electric pyrometer, or other approved thermometric instrument so placed at the discharge chute of the drier as to register automatically or indicate the temperature of the heated aggregates. The Engineer may require replacement of any thermometer by an approved temperature-recording apparatus for better regulation of the temperature of aggregates.
9. Dust Collector. The plant shall be equipped with a dust collector constructed to waste or return uniformly all or any part of the material to the hot elevator collected as directed.
10. Truck Scales. The bituminous mixture shall be weighed on approved scales furnished by the Contractor or on public scales at the Contractor’s expense. Such scales shall be inspected and sealed as often as the Engineer deems necessary to assure their accuracy. (See paragraph I).
11. Safety Requirements. Adequate and safe stairways to the mixer platform and sampling points shall be provided, and guarded ladders to other plant units shall be placed at all points where accessibility to plant operations is required. Accessibility to the top of truck bodies shall be provided by a platform or other suitable device to enable the Engineer to obtain sampling and mixture temperature data. A hoist or pulley system shall be provided to raise scale calibration equipment, sampling equipment and other similar equipment from ground to the mixer platform and return. All gears, pulleys, chains, sprockets, and other dangerous moving parts shall be thoroughly guarded and protected. Ample and unobstructed space shall be provided on the mixing platform. A clear and unobstructed passage shall be maintained at all times in and around the truck loading area. This area shall be kept free from drippings from the mixing platforms.
b. Requirements for Batching Plants
1. Weigh box or hopper. The equipment shall include a means for accurately weighing each size of aggregate in a weight box or hopper suspended on scales and of ample size to hold a full batch without hand raking or running over. The gate shall close tightly so that no material is allowed to leak into the mixer while a batch is being weighed.
2. Bituminous Control. The equipment used to measure the bituminous material shall be accurate to plus or minus 0.5 percent. The bituminous material bucket shall be a non-tilting type with a loose sheet metal cover. The length of the discharge opening or spray bar shall be less than ¾ the length of the mixer and it shall discharge directly into the mixer. The bituminous material bucket, its discharge valve or valves and spray bar shall be adequately heated. Steam jackets, if used, shall be efficiently drained and all connections shall be so constructed that they will not interfere with the efficient operation of the bituminous scales. The capacity of the bituminous material bucket shall be at least 15 percent in excess of the weight of bituminous material required in any batch. The plant shall have an adequately heated quick-acting, non-drip, charging valve located directly over the bituminous material bucket.
The indicator dial shall have a capacity of at least 15 percent in excess of the quantity of bituminous material used in a batch. The controls shall be constructed so that they may be locked at any dial setting and will automatically reset to that reading after the addition of bituminous material to each batch. The dial shall be in full view of the mixer operator. The flow of bituminous material shall be automatically controlled so that it will begin when the dry mixing period is over. All of the bituminous material required for one batch shall be discharged in not more than 15 seconds after the flow has started. The size and spacing of the spray bar openings shall provide a uniform application of bituminous material the full length of the mixer. The section of the bituminous line between the charging valve and the spray bar shall be provided with a valve and outlet for checking the meter when a metering device is substituted for a bituminous material bucket.
3. Mixer. The batch mixer shall be an approved type capable of producing a uniform mixture with the job-mix tolerances. If not enclosed, the mixer box shall be equipped with a dust hood to prevent loss of dust.
The clearance of blades from all fixed and moving parts shall not exceed 25 mm unless the maximum diameter of the aggregate in the mix exceed 30 mm, in which case the clearance shall not exceed 40 mm.
4. Control of Mixing Time. The mixer shall be equipped with an accurate time lock to control the operation of a complete mixing cycle. It shall lock the weigh box gate after the charging of the mixer until the closing of the mixer gate at the completion of the cycle. It shall lock the bituminous material bucket throughout the dry and wet mixing periods. The dry mixing period is defined as the interval of time between the opening of the weigh box gate and the start of introduction of bituminous material. The wet mixing period is the interval of time between the start of introduction of bituminous material and the opening of the mixer gate.
The control of the timing shall be flexible and capable of being set at intervals of 5 seconds or less throughout a total cycle of up to 3 minutes. A mechanical batch counter shall be installed as a part of the timing device and shall be so designed as to register only completely mixed batches.
The setting of time interval shall be performed in the presence and at the direction of the Engineer who shall then lock the case covering the timing device until such time as a change is to be made in the timing periods.
c. Requirement for Continuous Mixing Plants
1. Aggregate Proportioning. The plant shall include means for accurately proportioning each size of aggregate.
The plant shall have a feeder mounted under each compartment bin. Each compartment bin shall have an accurately controlled individual gate to form an orifice for volumetrically measuring the material drawn from each compartment. The feeding orifice shall be rectangular with one dimension adjustable by positive mechanical means provided with a lock.
Indicators shall be provided for each gate to show the respective gate opening in millimeter.
2. Weight Calibration of Aggregate Feed. The plant shall include a means for calibration of gate openings by weighing test samples. Provision shall be made so that materials fed out of individual orifice may be by passed to individual test boxes. The plant shall be equipped to conveniently handle individual test samples weighing not less than 50 kilograms. Accurate scales shall be provided by the Contractor to weigh such test samples.
3. Synchronization of Aggregate Feed and Bituminous Material Feed. Satisfactory means shall be provided to afford positive interlocking control between the flow of aggregate from the bins and the flow of bituminous material from the meter or other proportioning device. This control shall be accomplished by interlocking mechanical means or by any other positive method satisfactory to the Engineer.
4. Mixer. The plants shall include a continuous mixer of an approved type, adequately heated and capable of producing a uniform mixture within the job-mix tolerances. It shall be equipped with a discharge hopper with dump gates which will permit rapid and complete discharge of the mixture. The paddles shall be adjustable for angular position on the shafts and reversible to retard the flow of the mix. The mixer shall have a manufacturer’s plate giving the net volumetric contents of the mixer of the several heights inscribed on a permanent gauge. Charts shall be provided showing the rate of feed or aggregate per minute for the aggregate being used.
2. Hauling Equipment
Trucks used for hauling bituminous mixtures shall have tight, clean, smooth metal beds which have been thinly coated with approved material to prevent the mixture from adhering to the beds. Each truck shall have a cover of canvass or other suitable material of such size as to protect the mixture from the weather. When necessary, such that the mixture will be delivered on the road at the specified temperature, truck beds shall be insulated and covers shall be securely fastened.
Truck beds shall be drained prior to loading.
3. Bituminous Pavers
The equipment shall be self-contained, power-propelled units, provided with an adjustable activated screed or strike-off assembly, heated if necessary, and capable of spreading and finishing courses of bituminous plant mix material in lane widths applicable to the specified typical section and thickness shown on the Plans.
Pavers shall be equipped with a control system capable of automatically maintaining the screen elevation as specified herein. The control system shall be automatically actuated from either a reference line or surface through a system of mechanical sensors or sensor directed mechanisms or devices which will maintain the paver screed at a predetermined transverse slope and at the proper elevation to obtain the required surface. When directed, the transverse slope control system shall be made inoperative and the screed shall be controlled by sensor directed automatic mechanisms which will independently control the elevation of each end of the screed from reference lines or surface.
The controls shall be capable of working in connection with any of the following attachments.
a. Ski-type device of not less than 9 m in length or as directed by the Engineer.
b. Taut stringline (wire) set to grade.
c. Short ski or shoe
The Contractor shall furnish the long ski, the short ski or shoe and furnish and install all required stakes and wire for a taut stringline.
Should the automatic control systems become inoperative during the day’s work, the Contractor will be permitted to finish the day’s work using manual controls, however, work shall not be resumed thereafter until the automatic control system has been made operative.
The Contractor shall provide and have ready for use at all times enough covers, as may be necessary, for use in any emergency such as rain, chilling wind, on unavoidable delay, for the purpose of covering or protecting any material that may have been dumped and not spread.
4. Rollers
The equipment shall be of the steel and/or pneumatic tire type and shall be in good condition, capable of reversing without backlash, and shall be operated at speeds slow enough to avoid displacement of the bituminous mixture. The number and weight of rollers shall be sufficient to compact the mixture to the required density while it is still in a workable condition. The use of equipment which results in excessive crushing of the aggregate will not be permitted.
307.3.3 Conditioning of Existing Surface
Immediately before placing the bituminous mixture, the existing surface shall be cleaned of loose or deleterious material by brooming or other approved means.
Contract surface or curb, gutters, manholes and other structures shall be painted with a thin, uniform coating of bituminous material prior to the bituminous mixture being placed against them.
307.3.4 Preparation of Bituminous Material
The bituminous material shall be heated so as to avoid local overheating and provide a continuous supply of the bituminous material to the mixer at a uniform temperature. The temperature of asphalt cement delivered to the mixer shall be as required to achieve a kinematic viscosity in the range of 150-300mm2 /s, as determined by AASHTO T 201. Asphalt cement shall not be used while it is foaming nor shall be heated above 1590C at any time after delivery in the project.
307.3.5 Preparation of Aggregate
Aggregates for pug mill mixing shall be heated, dried and delivered to the mixing unit at a temperature within the range ±170C of the bitumen. Moisture content of the aggregate shall not exceed one mass percent at the time it is introduced into the mixing unit. Flames used for drying and heating shall be properly adjusted to avoid damage to the aggregate and to avoid soot on the aggregate. Moisture content of the mixture from drum dryer plants shall not exceed three (3) percent of the output, as determined by AASHTO T 110.
307.3.6 Mixing
The dried aggregates and the bituminous material shall be measured or gauged and introduced into the mixer in the amount specified by the job mix formula.
After the required amounts of aggregate and bituminous material have been introduced into the mixer, the material shall be mixed until a complete and uniform coating of the particles and a thorough distribution of the bituminous material throughout the aggregate is secured.
307.3.7 Spreading and Finishing
The mixture shall be spread and struck off to the grade and elevation established. Bituminous pavers shall be used to distribute the mixture either over the entire width or over such partial width as may be practicable.
The longitudinal joint in one layer shall offset that in the layer immediately below approximately 15 cm; however, the joint in the top layer shall beat the center line of the pavement if the roadway comprises two (2) lanes, or at lane lines if the roadway is more than two (2) lanes, unless otherwise directed.
On areas where irregularities or unavoidable obstacle makes the use of mechanical spreading and finishing equipment impracticable, the mixture may be placed and finished by hand tools.
The mixture shall be placed at a temperature not less than 1070C as measured in the truck just prior to dumping into the spreader.
When tar is used, the mixture shall be placed at between 660C and 1070C.
When production of the mixture can be maintained and when practical, pavers shall be used in echelon to place the wearing course in adjacent lanes.
307.3.8 Compaction
Immediately after the mixture has been spread, struck off and surface irregularities adjusted, it shall be thoroughly and uniformly compacted by rollers as specified under paragraph No. 4 of Subsection 307.3.2.
The surface shall be rolled when the mixture is in proper condition and when the rolling does not cause under displacement, cracking and shoving. Rolling shall begin at the sides and proceeds longitudinally parallel toward the road centerline, each trip overlapping ½ the roller width, gradually progressing to the crown of the road. When paving in echelon or abutting a previously placed lane, the longitudinal joint should be rolled first followed by the regular rolling procedure. On superelevated curves, the rolling shall begin at the low side and progress to the high side overlapping of longitudinal trips parallel to the centerline.
Rollers shall move at a slow but uniform speed with the drive roll or wheels nearest the paver.. Rolling shall be continued until roller marks are eliminated and a minimum of 97 mass percent of the density of the laboratory compacted specimens prepared in accordance with AASHTO T 166 has been obtained.
Any displacement occurring as a result of the reversing of the direction of a roller, or from other causes, shall be corrected at once by the use of rakes and addition of fresh mixture when required. Care shall be exercised in rolling not to displace the line and grade of the edges of the bituminous mixture.
To prevent adhesion of the mixture to the rollers, the wheels shall be kept properly moistened with water or water mixed with very small quantities of detergent or other approved material. Excess liquid will not be permitted.
Along forms, curbs, headers, walls and other places not accessible to the rollers, the mixture shall be thoroughly compacted with hot hand tampers, smoothing irons or with mechanical tampers.
307.3.9 Joints
Placing of the bituminous paving shall be continuous as possible. Rollers shall not pass over the unprotected end of a freshly laid mixture unless authorized by the Engineer. Transverse joints shall be formed by cutting back on the previous run to expose the full depth of the course. When directed by the Engineer, a brush coat of bituminous material shall be used on contact surfaces of transverse joints before additional mixture is placed against the previously rolled material.
307.3.10 Acceptance, Sampling and Testing
 The contractor shall cut full depth samples as directed, from the finished pavement, for testing. Samples shall be neatly cut by saw or core drill. Each sample shall be at least 150 mm x 150 mm or 100 mm diameter full depth. At least one, but not more than three samples shall be taken for each full day’s operation. If no core samples were taken during the day’s operation, core samples shall be taken from the completed pavement for every 100 L. M. per lane. The contractor shall supply and furnish new material to backfill boreholes left by the samples taken.
No acceptance and final payment shall be made on completed asphalt pavement unless core test for thickness determination is conducted, except for Barangay Roads where the implementing office is allowed to waive such test.
The samples obtained will be used to measure the thickness of the pavement. The same samples will be used to test the density of the compacted pavement by AASHTO T 166.
The compacted pavement shall have a density equal to, or greater than 97mass percent of the density of a laboratory specimen. The asphalt pavement represented by the cores shall not be accepted if the deficiency in density is more than 2%.
The compacted pavement shall have a thickness tolerances of -5 mm. Thickness in excess of the specified thickness shall not be considered in the payment of asphalt pavement. The asphalt pavement represented by the core shall not be accepted if the deficiency in the core thickness is more than 5 mm. Averaging of the density and thickness of asphalt cores is not permitted.
If the deficiency in the core thickness is more than 5 mm, additional layer may be permitted in order to meet the designed thickness, however, the minimum additional asphalt overlay thickness should be dependent on the minimum thickness capacity of asphalt paver but it should not be less than 50 mm and that proper construction procedures are followed.
307.3.11 Surface Tolerances
The surface will be checked by the use of a 3-m straight-edge at sites selected by the Engineer. The straight-edge will be applied at right angles, as well as, parallel to the centerline of the roadbed.
The variation of the surface from the testing edge of the straight-edge between any two contacts with the surface shall not exceed 6 mm.
Tests will be made immediately after initial compaction and any variations detected shall be corrected by removing or adding materials, as may be necessary. Rolling shall then be continued as specified. After final rolling, the smoothness of the course shall be checked again and any area defective in texture or composition shall be corrected, including removal and replacement of unsatisfactory material at the Contractor’s expense as directed by the Engineer.
307.4 Method of Measurement
The area to be paid for under this item shall be the number of square meters (m2) of asphalt pavement placed, compacted and accepted based on the thickness and densities of the cores taken in accordance with subsection 307.3.10 (Acceptance, Sampling and Testing).
307.5 Basis of Payment
The accepted quantity, measured as prescribed in Section 307.4 will be paid for as provided in the respective items for the specified type of bituminous plant mix.

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