Balanced Mix Design (BMD)
BMD is an asphalt mix design using performance tests on appropriately conditioned specimens that address multiple modes of distress taking into consideration mix aging, traffic, climate, and location within the pavement structure. Welcome to the CAPRI page dedicated to the topic of the increased use of BMD in asphalt pavements.
Overview
What is Balanced Mix Design?
Watch this introduction to BMD concepts and implementation.
CAPRI Research
Latest BMD Research
Explore recently completed CAPRI research addressing practical challenges in Balanced Mix Design testing and implementation.
Examining Specimen Fabrication Variabilities of BMD
Study evaluating how specimen fabrication procedures impact BMD performance testing consistency, including four common sources of variability in specimen preparation.
BMD with Absorptive Aggregates
Laboratory assessment examining the impact of absorptive aggregates on BMD testing and potential strategies for mitigating those effects.
Reference Materials
BMD Resources
Links to external pages with valuable BMD information.
- CAPRI: Guidelines and Recommendations for Field Validation of Test Criteria for BMD Implementation
- FHWA BMD Case Studies Virtual Workshop: Moving Forward with Implementation
- NCAT Cracking Group Experiment: Validation of Top-Down Cracking Tests for BMD
- NCHRP 20-07/Task 406 Development of a Framework for BMD
- NCHRP Synthesis 552: Practices for Fabricating Asphalt Specimens for Performance Testing
- FHWA TechBrief: Asphalt Materials Quality Assurance Practices
- FHWA Tech Brief: Responsible Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement in Asphalt Mixtures
- FHWA Cooperative Agreement Materials
State Experiences
Case Studies & Peer Exchanges
Implementation experiences from state DOTs and regional groups.
Case Studies on BMD Implementation
Previous Regional BMD Peer Exchanges
- Rocky Mountain West Peer Exchange on BMD
- Midwest Peer Exchange on Balanced Mix Design
- Northeast Peer Exchange on Balanced Mix Design
- North Central Peer Exchange on Balanced Mix Design
- Southeast Peer Exchange on Balanced Mix Design
FHWA BMD Implementation Workshop
Meeting Materials
Meeting Presentations
Click any presentation to view or download.
