SECTION 305 — BITUMINOUS CONCRETE BASE
COURSE (STANDARD) AND BITUMINOUS CONCRETE BASE COURSE (HEAVY DUTY)


305.1 DESCRIPTION — This work is construction of a plant-mixed standard bituminous concrete base course and heavy duty bituminous concrete base course. When placed on subgrade, it includes the preparation of subgrade as specified in Section 210.


305.2 MATERIAL —

(a) Bituminous Material. One of the following:

1. Virgin or Recycled Mix containing 5 to 15% RAP. Asphalt Cement, Class AC-20, Section 702. Asphalt Cement, Class AC-10, Section 702 may be used in lieu of AC-20 in Districts 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 9-0, 10-0, 11-0, 12-0 and 5-0 (Monroe, Carbon, and Schuylkill Counties only), for standard bituminous mixture.

2. Recycled Mix containing 16% or more RAP. Section 403.2(a)

(b) Aggregates.

1. Fine Aggregate. Section 703.1. Use 75% manufactured sand in the fine aggregate portion of the heavy duty bituminous mixture. Increase or decrease this percentage to meet other specification criteria when approved by the Engineer.

2. Coarse Aggregate. Type A or Type B, Section 703.2. Coarse aggregate may be obtained from more than one source; however, start and complete any portion of the base course with aggregate from one source, or with an acceptable blend. Type A, No. 2A coarse aggregate may be used if the combined gradation meets the requirements in Table A.

3. Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Material or Reclaimed Aggregate Material. Section 403.2(b) or (c)

(c) Filler for Use in Heavy Duty Bituminous Mixture. Section 703.1(c)1. Do not use flyash as a filler for heavy duty bituminous mixture.

(d) Composition of Mixture. As follows, except conform to Section 403.2(d) for recycled mix.

1. Review of Quality Control Plan and Job-Mix Formulas. Prepare a quality control plan, as specified in Section 106, and submit it for review at the start of the project and at least annually thereafter. Do not start actual work until the quality control plan has been reviewed and the job-mix formula has been submitted.
If the source of material changes, have a new job-mix formula submitted before using the new material.
When unsatisfactory results or other conditions make it necessary, a new job-mix formula may be required.
Establish and use the job-mix formula within the limits of Table A. Conform to the following Marshall values, when tested in accordance with PTM No. 705:

1.a Bituminous Concrete Base Course (Standard).

Stability Value at 140F

Flow value

These values are not required for daily plant control.

1.b Bituminous Concrete Base Course (Heavy Duty). Vary the percentage of material passing the No. 200 and/or No. 8 Sieves in the heavy duty bituminous concrete base course mixture (if required for the job-mix formula) within the tolerance band specified in Table A, with the approval of the Engineer.
Compact Marshall specimens with 75 blows on each side. Control all operations in design and production of bituminous mixtures to comply with the following Marshall values:

Stability Value at 140F

Flow Value
Percentage of unfilled voids to be 5.0% for the job-mix formula. Voids in daily plant compacted Marshall specimens not to exceed the master range of 3.5% to 6.5% voids. Compliance with these criteria is acceptable if 90% of the determinations per project are within the specified tolerance band.
Provide minimum percent VMA (Voids in Mineral Aggregate) of 13 for the job-mix formula. Provide minimum percent VMA of 12.0 during production. Compliance with these criteria is acceptable, if 90% of the determinations per project meet the stated minimums.

2. Uniformity. The composition limits in Table A are to govern mixtures and are the maximum and minimum allowed. Analyze samples of the completed mixture, in accordance with the reviewed quality control plan, for compliance with Table A.
Perform the test specified in PTM No. 740, daily until no problems are evident; then testing may be reduced to once a week unless a significant change is determined in accordance with the requirements of Bulletin 27. Provide the project with the running average of the last five consecutive values. Show this value on the density sample identification form submitted from the project. Use the maximum specific gravity value to calculate the theoretical density of the paving mixture.

2.a. Standard Bituminous Concrete Base Course Mixture. Maintain the bitumen content within ±0.8 of one percentage point of the job-mix formula for individual test samples (n = 1) and within ±0.5 of one percentage point for multiple test samples (n = 3 to n = 7).

2.b. Heavy Duty Bituminous Concrete Base Course Mixture. Produce the bituminous mix within the job-mix formula tolerances specified in Section .401.2(d)2., Table B.


Composition of Mixture — Table A
(Mass Percent Passing Square Openings,
Based on Laboratory Sieve Tests)

Passing Sieve
Required Composition of Mixture
Standard
Heavy Duty
2"
100
100
1-1/2"
95-100
95-100
1"
--
85-95
3/4"
52-100
--
1/2"
--
40-65
3/8"
36-70
--
#4
--
20-47
#8
16-38
15-37
#16
--
10-30
#30
8-24
5-24
#50
6-18
4-17
#100
4-10
3-10
#200
--
2-5

Bitumen % by Weight

Standard
Heavy Duty
Stone or Gravel
3.0-6.0
3.5-6.0
Slag
4.5-8.5
4.5-8.5