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Marshall Stability Test — Global Lab India
NABL Accredited · Bitumen Testing Service

Marshall Stability Test
(Bituminous Mix Design — IS 2386)

Marshall method mix design and stability testing for hot mix asphalt — determining optimum bitumen content, stability, flow, air voids and VMA for highway pavement construction per MORTH specifications.

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ASTM D6927
Standard
±5%
Accuracy
7 Days
Report TAT
NABL
Accredited
NABL Accredited Lab · ISO/IEC 17025:2017
Digital Reports via Autovity QLMS
Pan-India · 7 Lab Locations
Est. 2009 · 20,000+ Projects
Overview

What is the Marshall Stability Test?

The Marshall Stability Test is the primary method for designing and quality controlling hot mix asphalt (HMA) for road construction. Marshall specimens are compacted at a standard number of blows, then tested for stability (peak resistance to deformation) and flow (deformation at peak load) at 60°C. These values, combined with volumetric properties, determine the Optimum Bitumen Content (OBC).

Conducted as per ASTM D6927 and MORTH Clause 507, Marshall testing is the standard acceptance test for all bituminous concrete (BC), dense bituminous macadam (DBM) and semi-dense bituminous concrete (SDBC) mixes on NHAI and state highway projects. Global Lab conducts complete Marshall mix design and job mix formula verification.

Optimum Bitumen Content
Complete Marshall design curve determines OBC from 5 bitumen content trials.
Stability & Flow Measurement
Stability (kN) and flow (mm) measured at 60°C in calibrated Marshall apparatus.
Volumetric Properties
Air voids (Va), VMA, VFB and specific gravity calculated per MORTH requirements.
OBC Verification Testing
Job mix formula verification testing for site acceptance.
NABL Certified Reports
All results on NABL-accredited letterhead per ASTM D6927/MORTH.
NHAI JMF Format
Mix design report in NHAI Job Mix Formula format for direct submission.
Test in Action

Marshall Stability Test — Site Images

Marshall Specimen Compaction at 75 Blows
Marshall Specimen Compaction
Marshall Stability Test at 60°C
Marshall Specimen Compaction
OBC Design Curve Plotted
Marshall Specimen Compaction
Test Procedure

How the Marshall Stability Test is Conducted

  • 1
    Material Testing
    Aggregate grading, specific gravity, water absorption and bitumen penetration/viscosity tested.
  • 2
    Trial Specimens at 5 Bitumen Contents
    Marshall specimens (101.6mm dia × 63.5mm) compacted at 75 blows each face at 5 bitumen contents (OBC±1%).
  • 3
    Bulk Density & Voids Calculation
    Bulk specific gravity (Gmb), theoretical maximum density (Gmm), Va, VMA and VFB calculated.
  • 4
    Marshall Stability & Flow Test
    Specimens conditioned at 60°C for 30 min. Tested in Marshall apparatus at 50mm/min loading rate.
  • 5
    OBC Determination & JMF Report
    OBC determined from stability, flow, Va, VMA and VFB criteria per MORTH Table 500-10. NABL JMF report within 7 days.
Standards & Specifications

Applicable Test Standards

Standard Title Scope Type
ASTM D6927 Standard Test Method for Marshall Stability and Flow of Asphalt Mixtures Marshall Test ASTM
MORTH Specifications for Road and Bridge Works — Clause 507 Bituminous Mix MORTH
IS 2386 Part 3 Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete — Specific Gravity, Density, Absorption Aggregate Properties Indian Standard
IRC SP 53 Guidelines on Use of Polymer and Rubber Modified Bitumen in Road Construction PMB Mixes IRC
Applications

Where is the CAPO Test Used?

NHAI highway bituminous concrete (BC) and DBM job mix formula design
State highway SDBC and BC mix design per MORTH Clause 507
Modified bitumen (PMB 40/PMB 70) mix design for high-traffic highways
Airport apron and taxiway bituminous mix design for AAI
Industrial road and parking area bituminous mix design
Forensic investigation of pavement rutting and mix design verification
Why Choose Global Lab

Our Advantages

NABL Accredited ReportsNHAI and MORTH accepted Marshall mix design and JMF certificates.
Complete Design Curve5-point Marshall design curve with full volumetric analysis.
NHAI JMF FormatReport formatted for direct submission to NHAI quality control.
PMB Mix Design CapabilityMarshall design for polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and CRMB mixes.
Pan-India CoverageBitumen mix design lab testing at all 7 locations.
Site Verification TestingOBC verification and site mix acceptance testing during construction.
Get Started Today
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