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Advances in Sustainable Pavement and Road Construction: Innovations with Asphalt and Recycled Materials

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 457

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities (ISILC), Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia
Interests: pavement engineering; life cycle assessment; asphalt innovation; recycled construction materials; low-carbon roads
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the global construction sector moves toward more sustainable and resilient infrastructure, innovations in pavement materials and road construction methods are playing a critical role, which is why this Special Issue focuses on recent advancements in sustainable pavement technologies, with a particular emphasis on asphalt innovations and the integration of recycled materials. The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), recycled plastic, rubber, industrial by-products, and other alternative materials not only reduces the environmental impact but also enhances the performance and longevity of road infrastructure.

We invite original research articles, review papers, and case studies that explore the design, performance evaluation, and implementation of sustainable pavement systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, novel asphalt binders, warm mix asphalt technologies, life cycle assessment (LCA), pavement recycling techniques, low-carbon construction practices, digital tools for pavement optimization, and the circular economy in road construction.

This Special Issue aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working at the intersection of materials science, civil engineering, and sustainability. Contributions that demonstrate innovative approaches, real-world applications, or offer policy and practical insights for transitioning to greener road infrastructure are especially encouraged.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Buildings.

Dr. Rudi van Staden
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable pavement materials
  • asphalt innovation
  • recycled construction materials
  • road infrastructure sustainability
  • life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • circular economy in construction
  • low-carbon road technologies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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26 pages, 2107 KB  
Systematic Review
Recycled Plastics in Asphalt Mixtures: A Systematic Review of Mechanical Performance, Environmental Impact and Practical Implementation
by Julio Calderón-Ramírez, David Sepúlveda-Valdez, Leonel García, Marcelo A. Lomeli-Banda, Carlos Salazar-Briones and Marco Montoya-Alcaraz
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(18), 9901; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15189901 - 10 Sep 2025
Viewed by 174
Abstract
The growing environmental impact of plastic waste and the high energy consumption in traditional asphalt production have driven the search for more sustainable alternatives in road construction. This systematic review evaluates the incorporation of recycled plastics into Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Warm [...] Read more.
The growing environmental impact of plastic waste and the high energy consumption in traditional asphalt production have driven the search for more sustainable alternatives in road construction. This systematic review evaluates the incorporation of recycled plastics into Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), focusing on their effects on mechanical performance and environmental outcomes. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA/ScR) methodology, 39 studies published between 2012 and 2023 were analyzed to compare plastic types, incorporation methods (dry, wet, and pyrolysis), and dosage levels. Results show that plastics such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP) can improve stiffness, rutting resistance, and fatigue life. WMA technologies, while less commonly applied, offer significant environmental advantages by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. The review highlights the critical role of plastic type, blending method, and local conditions in optimizing performance. Overall, integrating recycled plastics into asphalt mixtures presents a promising pathway toward more durable and sustainable pavement infrastructure. Full article
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