Capturing Durability of High Recycled Binder Ratio (RBR) Asphalt Mixtures

Environmental sustainability and economic benefits motivate maximum use of recycled asphalt materials (RAM), including reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), in asphalt mixtures. However, when stiff, brittle, aged materials are added to virgin asphalt-aggregate mixtures, adequate durability (initially and with time) must be maintained by engineering each unique combination of virgin and recycled materials. To maximize durability, state departments of transportation (DOTs) currently limit the RAP and RAS contents and their overall recycled binder ratio (RBR). Strategies for improving binder rheology and mixture durability include utilizing a softer base binder or adding a recycling agent (rejuvenator), but the durability of mixtures utilizing these strategies is unknown. In addition, these types of high RAM content asphalt mixtures are difficult for agencies to accept because no uniform AASHTO practice for their assessment is available. A comprehensive standard practice is needed that specifically guides the complex task of engineering durable, high RAM content asphalt mixtures within the context of balanced mix design. This practice will promote environmental sustainability of the most recycled product worldwide and realize significant economic benefits. The objectives of this research are to (1) produce a proposed AASHTO standard practice and associated test methods for design and evaluation of durable high RAM content asphalt mixtures and (2) revise the proposed AASHTO Standard Practice for Characterization of Asphalt Mixtures with High Recycled Materials Contents and Recycling Agents produced in NCHRP Project 09-58 to address mixture durability. In this research, durability is defined as the ability of an asphalt mixture to withstand traffic and environmental conditions without deterioration evidenced by raveling, surface cracking, pop outs, and damage attributed to moisture. The research shall comprehensively investigate the interaction of material, traffic, and environmental factors that cause deterioration in pavements containing high RAM contents.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4960

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $750000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 09-65

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Barcena, Roberto

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)

  400 Harvey Mitchell Parkway South
  Suite 300
  College Station, TX  United States  77845-4375
• Principal Investigators:

  Martin, Amy

• Start Date: 20210326
• Expected Completion Date: 20240326
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aging (Materials); Asphalt mixtures; Binders; Cracking; Durability; Moisture content; Recycled materials
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01739634
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 09-65
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 20 2020 9:23AM