How do you correct aggregate feed for moisture?

Multiply the wet feed rate by the dry-solids factor, which is 100 minus the moisture percent. In the example a 120 wet-tons-per-hour feed at a 94% dry-solids factor (6% moisture) corrects to 112.8 dry tons per hour.

Why does aggregate moisture matter in asphalt production?

Binder is proportioned against dry aggregate weight. If you batch against wet weight, the mix runs lean on binder and the gradation proportions shift, both of which move the mat off the JMF.

What is a typical aggregate moisture content?

Stockpile surface moisture commonly runs 2-7% for coarse and fine aggregate, higher right after rain. The example's 6% moisture (94% dry-solids factor) is a realistic wet-pile value.

Wet tons vs dry tons - which does the JMF use?

The JMF and binder proportioning are always on a dry-weight basis. The 112.8 dry tons per hour is the number that matters for mix design, not the 120 wet tons per hour off the belt.

How much does 6% moisture cost in feed?

It removes 6% of the apparent feed: 120 wet tons per hour become 112.8 dry tons per hour, a 7.2 ton-per-hour reduction in real solids that must be accounted for in batching.

How do I get the dry-solids factor?

Subtract the measured moisture content from 100. Measure moisture by oven-drying a stockpile sample (or with a moisture probe); 6% moisture gives a 94% dry-solids factor.

Asphalt, Road Materials & Paving Products calculator

Aggregate Moisture Dry Feed Correction Calculator

Aggregate moisture correction converts a wet aggregate feed rate into the dry tonnage the plant actually places into the mix. Plant operators and batch-house technicians need this because aggregate stockpiles carry surface moisture that drives off in the drum dryer, so the wet weight crossing the cold-feed belt overstates the real solids going into the JMF. Correcting to a dry-tons-per-hour basis keeps the binder ratio honest, prevents over-firing the dryer, and stops moisture from silently throwing off your aggregate gradation proportions. On a humid morning after rain, this correction can swing several percent and is the difference between an on-spec mat and a lean one.

What this calculator does

Convert wet aggregate feed into an effective dry aggregate tons-per-hour rate using measured production time and dry-solids factor.
a plant operator or QC technician needs to adjust wet aggregate feed readings after rain, stockpile watering, or changing RAP moisture
It computes the wet aggregate feed rate from tonnage over runtime, then multiplies by the dry-solids factor to give the corrected dry tons-per-hour feed.

Formula used

Wet aggregate feed rate = wet aggregate processed ÷ production runtime
Corrected dry aggregate feed rate = wet feed rate × dry-solids factor

Inputs explained

Wet aggregate processed:
Production runtime:
Dry-solids factor (100 - moisture %):

How to use the result

Use it whenever stockpile moisture changes - after rain, at shift start, or when switching piles - to recalibrate the cold-feed and binder proportioning.
It uses a single average moisture figure; if piles vary or surface moisture differs from the lab-measured value, the corrected dry rate will drift from reality.

Common questions

How do you correct aggregate feed for moisture? Multiply the wet feed rate by the dry-solids factor, which is 100 minus the moisture percent. In the example a 120 wet-tons-per-hour feed at a 94% dry-solids factor (6% moisture) corrects to 112.8 dry tons per hour.
Why does aggregate moisture matter in asphalt production? Binder is proportioned against dry aggregate weight. If you batch against wet weight, the mix runs lean on binder and the gradation proportions shift, both of which move the mat off the JMF.
What is a typical aggregate moisture content? Stockpile surface moisture commonly runs 2-7% for coarse and fine aggregate, higher right after rain. The example's 6% moisture (94% dry-solids factor) is a realistic wet-pile value.
Wet tons vs dry tons - which does the JMF use? The JMF and binder proportioning are always on a dry-weight basis. The 112.8 dry tons per hour is the number that matters for mix design, not the 120 wet tons per hour off the belt.
How much does 6% moisture cost in feed? It removes 6% of the apparent feed: 120 wet tons per hour become 112.8 dry tons per hour, a 7.2 ton-per-hour reduction in real solids that must be accounted for in batching.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.