Two methods for calculating the aggregate surface areas, the Surface Area Factor and Index methods, are discussed in this research and the results are further used to compute an average asphalt film thickness in asphalt mixtures. Field performance data from six Minnesota routes and MnROAD, including both coarse and fine gradations, were analyzed to determine significant correlations between asphalt film thickness values and the performance of asphalt mixtures. The analysis showed that the asphalt film thickness is a significant factor affecting the rutting performance for asphalt mixtures. However, the pavement performance is also affected by many other factors such as traffic level and surrounding environment. More research work is needed to investigate the relationship between the asphalt film thickness and the other performance parameters of asphalt mixtures such as fatigue cracking.
