ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF STONE MATRIX ASPHALT

Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) firstly developed in Germany in 1960. And it has been implemented by many countries for Flexible Pavement Road Construction. It is highly rut-resistant of bituminous coarse for heavy traffic roads. In April-2006 the indian road congress (IRC) decided for specifications be developed for SMA. The specification of SMA approved by the IRC council in 2007. Stone Matrix Asphalt has been proposed as a wearing course for the pavement. And carried out to meet the specification as recommended. The marshall method was adopted for design and analysis of mix as described in the Asphalt Institute Manual MS-2. The basic principle of Mix-Design is to arrive at Optimum Binder Content at the selected and mechanical properties desired. The suitable ingredient is the most important for the deign of SMA. To make an appropriate design with Aggregate, Filler, Bitumen, Cellulose Fiber and Additive. Stone Matrix Asphalt have a higher bitumen content which hold the aggregate with resistivity. Therefore rutting to be minimize and provide a higher rut resistant stability to the pavement under the heavy road traffic or heavy loaded vehicle. In this Mix-Design coarse aggregate proportion is high which can be optimize and prevent to the rutting. The temperature of mix material and all the individual material like, Aggregate, Bitumen, Cellulose Fiber are very sensitive as per actual, because required compaction will achieve when the temperature of all remain within specified.