The Hveem Stabilometer and Cohesiometer

The Hveem stabilometer (Figure 3) provides the key performance prediction measure for the Hveem
mix design method (TRB, 2000[7]). The stabilometer measures the resistance to deformation of a
compacted HMA sample by measuring the lateral pressure developed from applying a vertical load
(AASHTO, 2000[6]). The cohesiometer then measures the cohesion of the same compacted HMA
sample by measuring the forces required to break or bend the sample as a cantilevered beam
(AASHTO, 2000[6]).
Hveem Stabilometer
The stabilometer (Figure 3), a closed-system triaxial test, applies an increasing load to the top of the
sample at a predetermined rate. As the load increases, the lateral pressure is read at specified
intervals. The resulting stabilometer value is calculated as:
 Figure 3. Hveem stabilometer.
With this equation, the stabilometer value can range from 0 to 90. Zero would represent a condition
where lateral pressure is equal to vertical pressure (e.g., a liquid). Ninety would represent a
condition where there is no lateral pressure no matter what the vertical pressure is (e.g., an
incompressible solid). Table 1 shows typical stabilometer criteria.

Light Traffic Medium Traffic Heavy Traffic

Mix Criteria
(< 104 ESALs) (104 – 106 ESALs) (> 106 ESALs)
Stabilometer Value 30 35 37
Air Voids Approximately 4 percent
Table 1. Typical Hveem Design Criteria (from Asphalt Institute, 1979[8])
Hveem Cohesiometer
The cohesiometer (Figures 4 and 5) attempts to measure cohesive strength across the diameter of a
sample on which the stability test had already been conducted. This is intended to provide some
prediction about the ability of the HMA sample to resist raveling under traffic loading. Basically the
sample is bent as a cantilevered beam until it fails. Although it was useful for oil mixes, HMAs tend
to have large cohesion values as measured by the cohesiometer and rarely, if ever, fail. As a result,
the cohesiometer has fallen out of favor and is rarely used (Roberts et al., 1996[2]).
 Figure 4. Cohesiometer. Figure 5. Cohesiometer close-up.

Density and Voids Analysis

All mix design methods use density and voids to determine basic HMA physical characteristics. Two
different measures of densities are typically taken:

1. Bulk specific gravity (Gmb).

2. Theoretical maximum specific gravity (TMD, Gmm).
These densities are then used to calculate the volumetric parameters of the HMA. Measured void
expressions are usually:

 Air voids (Va), sometimes expressed as voids in the total mix (VTM)
 Voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA)
 Voids filled with asphalt (VFA)
Generally, these values must meet local or State criteria.

Selection of Optimum Asphalt Binder Content

The optimum asphalt binder content is finally selected based on the combined results of the
stabilometer test, density analysis and void analysis. As a first step, it is prudent to plot these test
results versus asphalt binder content in order to check them for possible testing errors. Typically,
these plots should exhibit the following characteristics:

 Hveem stability should decrease with increasing asphalt binder content.

 Density will generally increase with increasing asphalt content. The curve may or may not reach a
maximum.

 Percent air voids should decrease with increasing asphalt content.

Recall that the Hveem mix design method strives to select the asphalt content resulting in the
highest durability without falling below a minimum allowable stability. The “pyramid” method is a
common method of selecting the optimum asphalt binder content (Figure 6).