ASPHALT MIX DESIGN EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
Aggregate Sources CORRECT ANSWER Stone Deposits & Sand and Gravel Deposits
Stone deposits CORRECT ANSWER 1. Hard deposits - requires blasting & crushing -
2. Sedimentary -
3. Igneous -
4. Metamorphic
Sand & Gravel Deposits CORRECT ANSWER 1. Loose deposits -
2. Mined or Dredged
Sedimentary rocks CORRECT ANSWER
sediments consolidated by chemical action: limestone & Dolomite. (70% of crushed stone prod
uction)
Igneous rocks CORRECT ANSWER
solidification of magma or lava: granite and trap rocks (22% of crushed stone production)
Metamorphic rocks CORRECT ANSWER
Existing rocks subjected to heat and pressure within the earth: marble, quartzite, gneiss
% of aggregates in concrete vs asphalt CORRECT ANSWER Concrete: 70% -
Asphalt: 94% aggregate by volume
Mineral aggregates CORRECT ANSWER
Solids, definite chemical composition, crystal structure, natural.
,Naturally occurring aggregates are made of minerals
Synthetic or byproduct aggregates CORRECT ANSWER
1. Slag (byproduct of steel production: ABS, GBS) -
2. Foundry sand (Byproduct of metal casting)
Aggregate processing properties CORRECT ANSWER 1. Size distribution (Gradation) -
2. Surface texture -
3. Shape -
4. Cleanliness (Clay fines)
Hardrock mining CORRECT ANSWER 1. remove overburden -
2. blasting -
3. crushing -
4. screening
Sand and gravel puts CORRECT ANSWER 1. less expensive -
2. dry mining or underwater dredging -
3. extracted material washed -
4. screening
Crushing by energy & Gradation CORRECT ANSWER
1. Abrasion : large coarse particle size and fine, no good distribution in particle size -
2. Cleavage: Smaller coarse size that abrasion, but more particle size distribution -
3. Shatter: smaller coarse size that both, but more particle size distribution
Segregation CORRECT ANSWER 1. at Conveyer belt due to vibration -
, 2. in stockpiles due to gravity
Maximum aggregate size CORRECT ANSWER
smallest sieve opening through which the entire amount pass
Nominal Max Size CORRECT ANSWER
One sieve size larger than the first size to retain more than a specific amount
Control points in gradation graph CORRECT ANSWER
Depends on type of mix (S1, S2...) & nominal max aggregate size
Types of gradation CORRECT ANSWER 1. Dense graded, -
2. gap graded -
3. open graded
why do we use 0.45 power chart for sieve analysis CORRECT ANSWER
(Gradation size mm)^0.45 is an easy number
Restricted zone in sieve analysis CORRECT ANSWER
Poorly graded: deform under load and not enough interlock due to angularity
What is VMA? CORRECT ANSWER Voids in Mineral Aggregates
Why do we need VMA in asphalt mixes? CORRECT ANSWER
Binder will cover aggregates and fill some voids. Low VMA: No enough space for binder to go b
etween aggregates
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
Aggregate Sources CORRECT ANSWER Stone Deposits & Sand and Gravel Deposits
Stone deposits CORRECT ANSWER 1. Hard deposits - requires blasting & crushing -
2. Sedimentary -
3. Igneous -
4. Metamorphic
Sand & Gravel Deposits CORRECT ANSWER 1. Loose deposits -
2. Mined or Dredged
Sedimentary rocks CORRECT ANSWER
sediments consolidated by chemical action: limestone & Dolomite. (70% of crushed stone prod
uction)
Igneous rocks CORRECT ANSWER
solidification of magma or lava: granite and trap rocks (22% of crushed stone production)
Metamorphic rocks CORRECT ANSWER
Existing rocks subjected to heat and pressure within the earth: marble, quartzite, gneiss
% of aggregates in concrete vs asphalt CORRECT ANSWER Concrete: 70% -
Asphalt: 94% aggregate by volume
Mineral aggregates CORRECT ANSWER
Solids, definite chemical composition, crystal structure, natural.
,Naturally occurring aggregates are made of minerals
Synthetic or byproduct aggregates CORRECT ANSWER
1. Slag (byproduct of steel production: ABS, GBS) -
2. Foundry sand (Byproduct of metal casting)
Aggregate processing properties CORRECT ANSWER 1. Size distribution (Gradation) -
2. Surface texture -
3. Shape -
4. Cleanliness (Clay fines)
Hardrock mining CORRECT ANSWER 1. remove overburden -
2. blasting -
3. crushing -
4. screening
Sand and gravel puts CORRECT ANSWER 1. less expensive -
2. dry mining or underwater dredging -
3. extracted material washed -
4. screening
Crushing by energy & Gradation CORRECT ANSWER
1. Abrasion : large coarse particle size and fine, no good distribution in particle size -
2. Cleavage: Smaller coarse size that abrasion, but more particle size distribution -
3. Shatter: smaller coarse size that both, but more particle size distribution
Segregation CORRECT ANSWER 1. at Conveyer belt due to vibration -
, 2. in stockpiles due to gravity
Maximum aggregate size CORRECT ANSWER
smallest sieve opening through which the entire amount pass
Nominal Max Size CORRECT ANSWER
One sieve size larger than the first size to retain more than a specific amount
Control points in gradation graph CORRECT ANSWER
Depends on type of mix (S1, S2...) & nominal max aggregate size
Types of gradation CORRECT ANSWER 1. Dense graded, -
2. gap graded -
3. open graded
why do we use 0.45 power chart for sieve analysis CORRECT ANSWER
(Gradation size mm)^0.45 is an easy number
Restricted zone in sieve analysis CORRECT ANSWER
Poorly graded: deform under load and not enough interlock due to angularity
What is VMA? CORRECT ANSWER Voids in Mineral Aggregates
Why do we need VMA in asphalt mixes? CORRECT ANSWER
Binder will cover aggregates and fill some voids. Low VMA: No enough space for binder to go b
etween aggregates
