Viability Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis of Using Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in Unbound Pavement Layers in Louisiana

In Region 6, Portland cement is widely used in pavement construction to stabilize soil and base layers. When Portland cement is blended and compacted with soil and water, a hydration process and chemical alteration of the soil takes place. The hydration process forms a paste, which acts as a glue to hold the soil particles together. Once this mixture hardens, it forms a rigid material, which is durable and resistant to rutting. Unfortunately, this mixture also causes the material to contract, producing shrinkage and reflective cracks. Consequently, in Louisiana, many roadways previously constructed with soil cement have experienced severe shrinkage and reflective cracks, which caused premature roadway failures and is aesthetically unappealing to the traveling public. Therefore, it would be beneficial to South-Central States, including Louisiana, to identify alternative modifiers to substitute for Portland cement in soil and base layers in the future. One of these potential promising alternatives is using Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) to strengthen the unbound pavement layers (base/subbase course and subgrade). As such, this project will determine whether RAP in Louisiana could be utilized in unbound layers, including base, subbase, and subgrade and will also determine the optimum RAP content while conforming to current Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) specifications.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 22PLSU05

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $46896
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Dhasmana, Heena

• Performing Organizations:

  Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

  P.O. Box 94245, Capitol Station
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Principal Investigators:

  Dhasmana, Heena

• Start Date: 20220401
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Asphalt mixtures; Benefit cost analysis; Pavement cracking; Pavement layers; Pavement performance; Portland cement; Reclaimed asphalt pavements; Shrinkage
• Geographic Terms: Louisiana
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01844773
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: May 6 2022 11:41AM