Laboratory evaluation of the performance of reclaimed asphalt mixed with composite crumb rubber-modified asphalt: reconciling relatively high content of RAP and virgin asphalt

ABSTRACT

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) applications are largely limited by the insufficient performance of reclaimed asphalt (RA). To address this challenge, the composite crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CCRMA) with SBS and SBR modifiers was mixed with RA to prepare reconciling and reclaimed modified asphalt (RRMA) and evaluate its performance in laboratory tests. Experimental groups of RRMA included five RA contents (30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%) and three aging degrees. Results showed that RRMA’s high-temperature and fatigue resistance performances improved by adding CCRMA, while this improvement was weakened with increasing RA content and aging degree. This was because the addition of CCRMA reduced the morphology of ‘bee-like structures’ and improved resistance to deformation. CCRMA slightly reduced moderate-temperature crack resistance but still improved low-temperature crack resistance because adding CCRMA reduced the internal adhesion of asphalt. The moderate-temperature crack resistance was below the threshold. However, it is necessary to consider adding other technical means when RRMA was aged for more than 20 hours with more than 60% RA content. Furthermore, the reliability of excellent performance was 85% for RRMA with 30% RA content under a short-term aging state, which provided a reference for the design of reclaimed asphalt binder.

KEYWORDS:

• Reclaimed asphalt pavement
• crumb rubber-modified asphalt
• reconciling
• mechanical properties
• microstructure
• reliability design

Acknowledgments

This study is sponsored by the Science and Technology Projects of Anhui Transportation Holding Group Co., LTD. under Grants JKKJ-2019-06, to which the authors are very grateful.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Projects of Anhui Transportation Holding Group Co., LTD: [Grant Number JKKJ-2019-06].