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Infrastructures
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Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance
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Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance

A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 6283

Special Issue Editors

Dr. William Fedrigo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering: Civil Construction and Infrastructure, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Prédio 43.816, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
Interests: civil engineering; geotechnics; pavement; soil mechanics; infrastructures; materials
Dr. Lelio Antônio Teixeira Brito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering: Civil Construction and Infrastructure, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Prédio 43.816, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
Interests: pavement recycling and sustainability; warm mix asphalt; cold recycling; accelerated pavement testing
Prof. Dr. Alan Carter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ecole de Technologie Superieure, Département de génie de la construction, 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, bureau A-3494, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Interests: reclaimed asphalt; waste materials; cold recycling; bitumen modification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andrea Grilli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICEA), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Interests: cold recycling; hot recycling; warm mix asphalt; pavement management system; road construction and maintenance
Prof. Dr. Éric Lachance-Tremblay

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ecole de Technologie Superieure, Département de génie de la construction, 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, bureau A-3493, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Interests: pavement rehabilitation; full-depth reclamation; cold-in place recycling; cold recycling; recycled pavement
Dr. James Grenfell

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Transport Research Organisation NTRO, 80a Turner St, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia
Interests: mechanical properties; sustainability; decarbonisation; recycled materials; sustainable construction; stabilised materials; foamed bitumen stabilisation; warm mix asphalt; accelerated pavement testing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the context of growing social awareness about the importance of a circular economy, the focus on sustainable construction and maintenance practices for transportation infrastructures has become increasingly significant. Two innovative approaches, cold and warm paving techniques, are at the forefront of this evolution, offering substantial benefits in terms of environmental impact and resource efficiency.

Cold paving techniques, such as cold recycling of asphalt pavements and cold surfacings, are recognized for their low-energy and low-emission benefits. These methods involve recycling existing asphalt and using cold mixes, minimizing heating requirements and reducing environmental impact. Recent innovations aim to improve these techniques by refining material selection, mix proportions, and construction methods, while new developments like colored asphalt mixtures help address aesthetic and environmental concerns, including the urban heat island effect.

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) technology offers another sustainable alternative by allowing asphalt mixtures to be produced and compacted at lower temperatures than traditional hot mix asphalt. This results in reduced energy consumption and emissions. Additionally, incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) materials into WMA mixes conserves natural resources and enhances mix performance. Ongoing research into WMA focuses on optimizing additives, mix design, and managing higher RAP contents, while life cycle analyses highlight the long-term benefits of WMA technology.

The advances of both cold and warm paving technologies are crucial for enhancing the sustainability of infrastructure projects. Cold techniques are being refined to achieve performance comparable to traditional methods while maintaining their environmental benefits. Concurrently, WMA technology is improving the efficiency and sustainability of asphalt production and compaction, with research addressing various challenges and exploring new opportunities.

This Special Issue encourages research on both cold and warm paving technologies, with a focus on cold recycling, surface treatments, and the use of new materials and additives. Reviews summarizing the current state of the art and successful field applications are also welcomed, as they provide insights into effective practices and future directions. The continued evolution of these technologies promises significant advancements in sustainable pavement construction and maintenance.

Dr. William Fedrigo
Dr. Lélio Antônio Teixeira Brito
Prof. Dr. Alan Carter
Dr. Andrea Grilli
Prof. Dr. Éric Lachance-Tremblay
Dr. James Grenfell
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Infrastructures is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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

  • laboratory investigation of materials for cold recycling and surface treatments
  • structural design of pavements including cold and warm mixtures
  • full-scale testing of cold and warm mixtures
  • case studies considering sustainable technologies
  • integration of green technologies in the pavement management system
  • monitoring and prediction of performance of cold and warm technologies
  • life cycle assessment for pavements with cold and warm mixtures
  • additives and binders for cold and warm mixtures
  • environmental impact reduction through cold and warm paving techniques
  • cold and warm technologies in the context of extreme weather events

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1677 KB  
Article
The Laboratory Characterization of a Warm Asphalt Mixture Incorporating Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement
by Edoardo Bocci and Carlo Carpani
Infrastructures 2026, 11(3), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030103 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 330
Abstract
Nowadays, the most widespread solutions to increase the sustainability of bituminous mixes deal with the recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and the use of warm mix asphalt (WMA). However, the possibility of combining RAP recycling and WMA technologies needs to be further [...] Read more.
Nowadays, the most widespread solutions to increase the sustainability of bituminous mixes deal with the recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and the use of warm mix asphalt (WMA). However, the possibility of combining RAP recycling and WMA technologies needs to be further investigated and validated. This comprehensive laboratory study aimed at assessing the feasibility of recycling RAP in WMA mixes without compromising performance. For this purpose, WMA containing 40% RAP was produced by using softer virgin bitumen (160/220), to compensate for the high stiffness and viscosity of the RAP binder, and a WMA chemical additive. The mix was designed and characterized in terms of indirect tensile strength, water sensitivity, complex modulus, resistance to low-temperature cracking, resistance to rutting at high temperatures, and fatigue resistance. Its mechanical properties were compared with those of ordinary HMA made with virgin bitumen (50/70) and aggregates. The experimental results showed that the WMA+RAP mix had comparable volumetric properties with respect to the reference HMA despite its reduced production temperatures. Moreover, WMA+RAP exhibited similar or improved mechanical performance, with enhanced resistance to water damage, rutting, and fatigue cracking, without penalizing low-temperature behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance)
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18 pages, 1675 KB  
Article
Effect of a Recycling Agent on Binder and Mixture Performance of Cold Recycled Asphalt Mixes: A Dual-Scale Evaluation with Variability Assessment
by Sajjad Noura, Fahd Ben Salem and Alan Carter
Infrastructures 2026, 11(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030097 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 382
Abstract
Cold recycled asphalt mixtures incorporate a high amount of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), which offers more economic and environmental advantages than hot recycling techniques. Nevertheless, the presence of aged RAP binder frequently leads to reduced low-temperature performance and uncertainty in mechanical response. The [...] Read more.
Cold recycled asphalt mixtures incorporate a high amount of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), which offers more economic and environmental advantages than hot recycling techniques. Nevertheless, the presence of aged RAP binder frequently leads to reduced low-temperature performance and uncertainty in mechanical response. The influence of slack wax on full-depth reclamation (FDR) mixtures with bitumen emulsion is assessed in this study using a dual-scale approach. The approach integrates both chemical and rheological binder-scale characterization with mixture-scale mechanical performance with variability assessment. At the binder scale, the binder beam rheometer (BBR), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated that the addition of 10% recycling agent improved the low-temperature properties. The improvement at lower temperatures shifted the BBR temperature from −23 °C to −30 °C, which ultimately resulted in a less negative ΔTc, from −0.7 °C to −0.3 °C, and moderately improved high-temperature stiffness. Moreover, the FTIR analysis indicated a reduction in oxidation-related chemical markers, as evidenced by the reduced carbonyl and sulfoxide indices. At the mixture scale, complex modulus shows a systematic decrease in stiffness, particularly at lower temperatures of −25 °C and −15 °C, and a reduced phase angle, suggesting higher elastic dominance. The reduction is observed at all temperatures and frequencies. Rutting resistance of both formulations remains below 3% after 30,000 cycles. The complex modulus coefficient of variability was found to be 8–12%, comparable to that of hot mix asphalt. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the recycling agent provides a controlled restoration of viscoelastic properties in cold recycled mixtures without compromising structural integrity. This underscores the significance of multi-scale evaluation and variability assessment when characterizing high RAP recycling agents under the studied materials and dosage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance)
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17 pages, 1821 KB  
Article
Mechanistic–Empirical Performance Evaluation of Cold Asphalt Mixtures Produced with Different RAP Contents
by Paulo Ricardo Lemos de Santana, Elane Donato Santos, Fernando Santos do Amor Divino, Luana Pereira de Jesus, Weiner Gustavo Silva Costa, Acbal Rucas Andrade Achy and Mario Sergio de Souza Almeida
Infrastructures 2026, 11(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030081 - 3 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 444
Abstract
The reuse of milled pavement material, known as RAP (Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement), represents one of the major current challenges in highway engineering worldwide. There is no doubt that the most valuable application of this residue is its use in the production of new [...] Read more.
The reuse of milled pavement material, known as RAP (Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement), represents one of the major current challenges in highway engineering worldwide. There is no doubt that the most valuable application of this residue is its use in the production of new hot asphalt mixtures, incorporating the highest possible RAP content, a process that requires adaptations in residue processing at asphalt plants. In Brazil, the RAP content added to these mixtures is limited to a maximum of 25%. Consequently, alternative applications have gained prominence in the country to increase RAP utilization in pavement engineering, such as its use in cold premixed asphalt mixtures. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of cold asphalt mixtures containing different RAP contents through mechanistic-empirical analyses of a reference pavement structure, using the modelling framework adopted in the Brazilian Asphalt Pavement Design Method (MeDiNa). After Marshall mix design and volumetric and mechanical characterization of mixtures containing 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% RAP, stiffness and fatigue parameters were used to estimate the evolution of cracked area in the reference pavement, with each mixture applied as the surface layer under different traffic levels. The results demonstrated that pavement performance improved for all RAP contents evaluated compared to the mixture without RAP, with the mixture containing 30% RAP showing the best overall performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance)
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14 pages, 4128 KB  
Article
Analysis of the Viability of Manufacturing MASAI Mixtures at Ambient Temperature
by Gema García Travé, Raúl Tauste Martínez, Fernando Moreno Navarro and María del Carmen Rubio Gámez
Infrastructures 2026, 11(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030075 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 353
Abstract
The main goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of designing high-performance MASAI mixtures produced at ambient temperature. For this purpose, the impacts of certain variables, such as the type and amount of asphalt emulsion and the use or non-use of [...] Read more.
The main goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of designing high-performance MASAI mixtures produced at ambient temperature. For this purpose, the impacts of certain variables, such as the type and amount of asphalt emulsion and the use or non-use of RAP, on its performance are evaluated. Subsequently, its stiffness modulus, tensile strength, permanent deformation, and resistance to thermal cracking were evaluated and compared against a conventional dense-graded asphalt concrete (AC 16) and an open-graded (BBTM11B) hot-mix asphalt used for wearing courses. The results showed that these materials could represent more sustainable and good solutions for the rehabilitation of some types of pavements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance)
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21 pages, 3880 KB  
Article
Lime Stabilization of Tropical Soils: Mechanical Parameters for Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design
by Thaís Radünz Kleinert, Henrique Falck Grimm, Washington Peres Núñez and Alex Theo Visser
Infrastructures 2026, 11(2), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11020058 - 9 Feb 2026
Viewed by 681
Abstract
The mechanical behavior of lime-stabilized layers is essential for mechanistic–empirical pavement design, particularly in tropical regions where soil behavior differs from that of temperate residual soils. This study investigated three tropical soils (Argisol, Luvisol, and Latosol) stabilized with two hydrated lime sources (calcitic [...] Read more.
The mechanical behavior of lime-stabilized layers is essential for mechanistic–empirical pavement design, particularly in tropical regions where soil behavior differs from that of temperate residual soils. This study investigated three tropical soils (Argisol, Luvisol, and Latosol) stabilized with two hydrated lime sources (calcitic and dolomitic) at contents of 3% and 5%, compacted at standard or modified effort. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was measured at 7, 28, and 90 days, while flexural tensile strength (FTS) was obtained at 28 days, from which the flexural static modulus (FSM) and strain at break (εb) were derived. The results showed a strong soil-dependent response to lime treatment, with Argisol and Latosol behaving as lime-stabilized materials, whereas Luvisol exhibited more moderate improvements typical of soil modification. Compactive effort, lime type, and lime content significantly influenced UCS, FTS, and FSM, with compactive effort being the dominant and operationally achievable factor. Higher compactive effort, calcitic lime, and a 5% lime content consistently resulted in improved mechanical behavior, while curing time strongly influenced compressive strength due to progressive pozzolanic reaction. In contrast, strain at break was not significantly affected by the studied controllable factors and converged toward approximately 200 microstrain for soil–lime mixtures with UCS > 1 MPa, indicating a less brittle behavior relative to cement-stabilized materials and providing a representative input for preliminary design. Finally, significant correlations were established between UCS and FTS and between UCS and FSM, enabling the estimation of flexural parameters directly from compressive strength and supporting design simplifications when flexural testing is unavailable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance)
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19 pages, 2844 KB  
Article
Statistical Analysis of the Tensile Strength of Cold Recycled Cement-Treated Materials and Its Influence on Pavement Design
by William Fedrigo, Thaís Radünz Kleinert, Gabriel Grassioli Schreinert, Lélio Antônio Teixeira Brito and Washington Peres Núñez
Infrastructures 2025, 10(11), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10110284 - 24 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 894
Abstract
The tensile behavior of cold recycled cement-treated mixtures (CRCTMs), typically produced through full-depth reclamation (FDR), is critical for pavement design. Since no universal design method exists, different tests are applied, leading to varying results. In this context, this study aimed (a) to statistically [...] Read more.
The tensile behavior of cold recycled cement-treated mixtures (CRCTMs), typically produced through full-depth reclamation (FDR), is critical for pavement design. Since no universal design method exists, different tests are applied, leading to varying results. In this context, this study aimed (a) to statistically analyze the flexural tensile strength (FTS) and indirect tensile strength (ITS) of CRCTMs incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and lateritic soil (LS); (b) to evaluate how using FTS or ITS influences the design of CRCTM layers. FTS and ITS tests were conducted with different cement (1–7%) and RAP (7–93%) contents at multiple curing times (3–28 days), and results were used for statistical and mechanistic analyses. Results showed that cement and RAP contents significantly increased FTS and ITS. RAP exhibited the strongest influence on ITS. This indicates that CRCTMs with similar materials benefit from higher RAP contents. Mechanistic analysis revealed that lower RAP contents require thicker pavement structures, suggesting that increasing RAP can reduce costs and environmental impacts. FTS was about 65% higher than ITS, but using ITS in design led to structures 1.7–3.3 times thicker for the same service life. These findings highlight the need for proper CRCTM characterization, with flexural tests recommended for more reliable and cost-effective pavement design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance)
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17 pages, 1228 KB  
Article
Dynamic Modulus Regression Models for Cold Recycled Asphalt Mixtures
by João Meneses, Kamilla Vasconcelos, Kazuo Kuchiishi and Liedi Bernucci
Infrastructures 2025, 10(6), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10060143 - 10 Jun 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1471
Abstract
Cold recycling is an advantageous technique from economic and environmental perspectives for asphalt pavement rehabilitation, interventions, and maintenance. This work covered the investigation of dynamic modulus (|E*|) test models and their effects on cold recycled asphalt mixture (CRAM) |E*| data fitting, considering different [...] Read more.
Cold recycling is an advantageous technique from economic and environmental perspectives for asphalt pavement rehabilitation, interventions, and maintenance. This work covered the investigation of dynamic modulus (|E*|) test models and their effects on cold recycled asphalt mixture (CRAM) |E*| data fitting, considering different mixture parameters such as asphalt binder type and content, active filler type and content, aggregate gradation, reclaimed asphalt pavement content, and curing conditions. Multiple mixtures from a dynamic modulus test database were fitted using six different regression models and the results were analyzed by means of different residuals analysis. Finally, the effects of CRAM composition on |E*| data were graphically assessed. For the analyzed specimens, two models were found to be the most adequate for CRAM’s |E*| data regression. The analysis of CRAM composition showed a strong relation between the compaction method and the stiffness of CRAMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold and Warm Techniques for Sustainable Pavement Construction and Maintenance)
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