What effect does rounding Gmm and Gmb to three decimal places have?

Rounding the maximum specific gravity of aggregates (Gmm) and the bulk specific gravity of the mix (Gmb) to three decimal places is indeed a standard industry practice. This practice is employed primarily to maintain consistency and clarity in reporting both values across various testing and inspection processes.

Rounding to three decimal places allows for a balance between readability and precision, ensuring that the figures reported are not overly complex for interpretation while still being sufficiently precise for practical applications in asphalt mix design and calculations. Standard practices in the industry often dictate such rounding to ensure that all parties involved—whether engineers, inspectors, or contractors—can communicate effectively and interpret the data uniformly.

By adhering to this standard, it helps ensure that the results can be compared directly with historical data or regulations without introducing unnecessary discrepancies, which may arise from using excessive precision.