Evaluation of the feasibility of incorporating higher RAP materials content in asphalt concrete with the use of additives that improve the workability of asphalt mixtures

Abstract

The material recycling due to the environmental protection and sustainable development is playing an increasingly important role in the road pavement construction. This is especially true for the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) materials for the pavement construction layers. One of the problems encountered in the use of larger quantities of the RAP in asphalt mixtures is the deterioration of their workability and homogeneity especially in the case of cold dosing of RAP. The paper reports the results of a study on the use of additives to improve the workability of asphalt concrete for the subbase layer with an increase of up to 40% in crushed RAP content, dosed in the cold technology. In the study, additives of the F-T waxes, plant-derived liquefiers and zeolites were used to improve homogeneity and compactability of the mixtures using reduced paving temperatures. An evaluation of the compactability of mixtures with different contents of the RAP, using 3 types of additives to improve workability, was carried out. Compactability was evaluated by the compaction analysis in a gyratory compactor, determining, among other things, the required number of cycles to achieve the required compaction, as well as the shear stress and compaction index as a function of the number of compaction cycles. Subsequently, the asphalt mixtures were tested to verify their resistance to permanent deformation and resistance to water. Based on the results of the research and analysis, it was shown that it is possible to use increased RAP materials content in asphalt concrete base layers at both standard and reduced paving temperatures, through the use of additives that improve the workability and compactability of the mixtures.