The Three A's of Hot Mix Asphalt are which of the following?

• A. Asphalt, aggregates, and air
• B. Asphalt, tar, and air
• C. Aggregate, cement, and air
• D. Binder, aggregates, and air

Answer: (A)

Hot mix asphalt relies on three essential parts: the asphalt binder that coats and binds the rock, the aggregates that provide strength and structure, and air voids that exist in the compacted mix to allow proper workability and prevent issues like bleeding. The option that lists asphalt, aggregates, and air matches this mix exactly, naming the binder (asphalt), the mineral aggregates, and the necessary air voids. Tar and cement aren’t used as binders in modern HMA, and while “binder” is a correct term, the traditional trio is specifically asphalt, aggregates, and air.