Numerous design methodologies have been embraced to ensure asphalt concrete’s enduring quality and effectiveness. The mix design process typically involves determining proportions for various constituents within the asphalt mixture, including aggregate and binder content. Moreover, it encompasses the evaluation of the mixture's volumetric attributes, encompassing air voids, VMA (Voids in Mineral Aggregate), and VFA (Voids Filled with Asphalt), alongside an assessment of its performance in terms of rutting and cracking tendencies. The Marshall and Superpave methods take precedence among the mix design approaches in global prominence. Nonetheless, preceding research has demonstrated that the Marshall mix design proves unsuitable for applying mixes displaying high shear susceptibility. mixes from the Superpave mix design method have indicated that cracking and raveling has become the primary factor controlling the service lives. Thus, Balanced Mix Design (BMD) has been introduced to counteract the limitations of preceding mix design methodologies. As such, a discernible necessity arises to apprehend the distinctions between the Marshall, Superpave, and BMD methodologies. This study aims to understand the difference in the allowable asphalt content, optimized asphalt content, rutting, and cracking performance of various mix design methods. A total of nine sets of mix formulations were meticulously prepared in adherence to the Marshall, Superpave, and BMD methodologies. The findings demonstrate that the BMD methodology affords the broadest range of acceptable binder content, yielding a higher percentage of optimal binder content. Contrarily, the mixtures yielded through the Marshall and Superpave methodologies do not guarantee satisfactory resistance to rutting and cracking. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the allowable binder content, as dictated by the BMD methodology, exhibits a greater sensitivity towards the rutting performance threshold than the cracking performance threshold.

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