Poor mixture confinement tends to result in what outcome?

• A. Higher density and lower air voids
• B. Low density and low air voids
• C. Medium density and moderate air voids
• D. Low density and high air voids

Answer: (D)

When asphalt is confined effectively during placement, rollers can squeeze air out and pack the aggregate tightly, producing higher density and fewer air voids. If confinement is poor, the mix can spread or lift at the edges and around joints, making it harder for rollers to compact it fully. That leaves more void spaces trapped in the mat, so the density stays low while the air voids become high. In short, poor confinement means the pavement ends up with less compacted material and more air gaps, hence low density and high air voids.