Evaluation of the Bailey Method as a tool for improving the rutting resistance of mix designs using New Hampshire aggregate

Currently the NHDOT uses the Superpave method to design and evaluate its asphalt pavements; however, this method lacks guidelines to adjust an aggregate blend that yields unacceptable mixtures. The objective of this project was to determine if the Bailey Method of aggregate blending would help improve the rutting resistance of mix designs that use NH aggregates. The rutting performances of six typical NH mix designs and two Bailey designs were measured using the Third Scale Mobile Model Load Simulator (MMLS3), an accelerated pavement testing (APT) device, in hot, dry conditions. Out of the two mixtures redesigned according to the Bailey Method, one showed improvement in rutting resistance while the other showed no change. Additionally, the Bailey Method failed to predict the voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA) in the redesigned mixes