BMD webinar series offers insights for success

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), through its Accelerated Implementation and Deployment of Pavement Technologies (AIDPT) Program, will offer a series of webinars on balanced mix design in 2025 beginning in February.
The Balanced Mix Design: Insights For Success webinar series is part of a cooperative effort between the FHWA and the University of Nevada, Reno to improve the quality and performance of asphalt pavements.
Across five webinars, speakers will discuss some of the key case studies and focused research learned for the efforts to advance BMD nationally in recent years. Topics focus on critical work to implement BMD and address some of the areas cited as challenges in recent peer exchanges.
- Session 1: BMD Implementation Plan
Feb. 4 Register - Session 2: Validation for BMD
March 4 Register - Session 3: BMD Specimen Fabrication
April 7 Register - Session 4: BMD Testing Conditions
May 6 Register - Session 5: BMD in Quality Assurance
June 3 Register
All webinars will begin at 1 p.m. ET and conclude at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Feb. 4
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Speakers: Tim Aschenbrener, Derek Nener-Plante
This webinar will discuss the importance of and how to create an effective implementation plan for BMD.
Topics will cover essential actions, from gaining internal and external support to mapping tasks and timelines, with insights from lead states and actionable examples for positive practices.
Expected Outcomes:
- Recognize the importance of an implementation plan for adoption of BMD.
- Identify key tasks that need to be completed prior to creating an initial implementation plan.
- Understand how available resources can influence the scope of the implementation plan.
- Identify how key stakeholders can assist in the development of the implementation plan.
- Learn effective practices regarding the implementation plan from lead states.
March 4
VALIDATION FOR BMD: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT AND HOW TO DO IT
Speakers: Tim Aschenbrener, Derek Nener-Plante
This webinar will discuss the importance of validation to the responsible implementation of BMD.
Validation to key to establishing proper criteria. The reasons for conducting validation will be presented as well as examples of approaches used successfully by agencies.
Expected Outcomes:
- Recognize the difference of Balanced Mix Design to what we do now.
- Identify reasons to implement Balanced Mix Design.
- Identify beneficiaries of Balanced Mix Design.
- Recognize the importance of validation.
- Understand various options for validation.
April 7
BMD SPECIMEN FABRICATION
Speakers: Derek Nener-Plante, Tim Aschenbrener, Elie Hajj
This webinar will discuss key items learned across the country on the topic of specimen fabrication for BMD. Specimen fabrication is an important consideration for laboratories conducting BMD testing to reduce variability. Topics shall include considerations for lab operations to reduce variability and the latest on efforts to quantify effects of lag and dell time on BMD results.
Expected Outcomes: • Recognize the difference between Balanced Mix Design testing to what we do now. • Recognize the significant impact specimen fabrication can have on Balanced Mix Design test results. • Identify how to reduce variability in Balanced Mix Design testing through consistent laboratory operations. • Understand the key component of specimen fabrication for Balanced Mix Design.
May 6
BMD TESTING CONDITIONS: AGING AND TEST TEMPERATURES
Speakers: Derek Nener-Plante, Tim Aschenbrener, Elie Hajj
This webinar will discuss two important considerations for BMD testing: mixture aging and testing temperature. Both aging and testing temperature are parameters that can be changed by agencies to make BMD tests more reflective of their environment and materials. Topics shall include the need for aging for cracking evaluation, the different aging methods, and the impact of test temperature on rutting
evaluations.
Expected Outcomes: • Recognize the importance of incorporating aging into Balanced Mix Design implementation. • Recognize the importance of test temperatures on Balanced Mix Design tests and the validity of their results. • Understand various options for aging protocols for use with Balanced Mix Design. • Understand the environmental and loading differences in asphalt pavements across the country and how it impacts Balanced Mix Design testing.
June 3
BMD IN QUALITY ASSURANCE: IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Speakers: Derek Nener-Plante, Tim Aschenbrener
This webinar will discuss important considerations for incorporating BMD tests into production and quality assurance. Many agencies are starting with implementing BMD into mix design specifications but are also considering the use of BMD in quality assurance. The important challenges and considerations that should be incorporated into plans for using BMD in quality assurance will be presented.
Expected Outcomes:
- Recognize the current challenges with incorporating Balanced Mix Design into production and quality assurance.
- Understand the importance and purpose behind quality assurance systems.
- Identify the options for incorporating Balanced Mix Design into production and quality assurance.
- Recognize the importance of measuring consistency of the produced asphalt mixture even with Balanced Mix Design.