Search Results (12)

Despite being crucial for sustainable pavement construction, the widespread application of hot recycled asphalt mixtures in high-grade surface courses is hindered by concerns over their long-term performance, particularly regarding cracking resistance and moisture stability. This study systematically evaluates the road performance of hot central plant recycling (HCPR with 30% RAP) and hot in-place recycling (HIPR with 80% RAP) mixtures, benchmarked against virgin hot mix asphalt (SMA-13), through comprehensive laboratory simulations. The enhancing effect of basalt fibers (BFs) was thoroughly investigated. Results revealed a significant performance trade-off; while the recycled mixtures exhibited superior high-temperature stability (e.g., an 80.7% increase in dynamic stability for HIPR), their cracking resistance substantially decreased with higher RAP content (e.g., reductions of 60.8% in low-temperature flexural strain and 22.1% in intermediate-temperature fracture energy for HIPR). Both recycled mixtures also showed susceptibility to moisture damage, evidenced by stripping in Hamburg wheel-tracking tests. The incorporation of BFs effectively mitigated these deficiencies. It comprehensively improved the performance, enabling the HCPR mixture to meet specifications for severely cold regions and elevating the HIPR mixture to compliance level for cold regions. Furthermore, BF significantly enhanced rutting resistance under coupled hydrothermal conditions. These findings demonstrate that basalt fiber reinforcement can bridge the performance gap of recycled mixtures, thereby expanding their application scope and providing a robust technical basis for selecting and optimizing recycling strategies in high-grade pavement engineering. Full article

Microwave heating is a method with a uniform heating effect and environmental friendliness in in-place hot recycling, but the microwave absorption capacity of traditional asphalt mixtures is still insufficient. As an excellent microwave-absorbing material, magnetite powder has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and good thermodynamic stability. This study selects it as the microwave-absorbing material, prepares AC (Asphalt Concrete) type and SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt) type microwave asphalt mixtures by adjusting its content, and investigates its influence on the microwave-heating characteristics and pavement performance of the mixtures. Simulations of the microwave-heating process of AC-type mixtures using COMSOL software (COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2) show that magnetite powder achieves optimal performance in terms of heating effect and economic efficiency when its content is 0.5%. Subsequently, laboratory tests are conducted to study the wave absorption and temperature rise performance of AC and SMA microwave asphalt mixtures; combined with economic factors, the optimal contents of magnetite powder for the two types of mixtures are determined to be 0.5% and 1%, respectively, and at the same time, these results are explained based on multiple physical theories. Furthermore, pavement performance is investigated through laboratory tests, including high-temperature rutting tests, low-temperature bending tests, immersed Marshall tests, and freeze–thaw cycle durability tests, and the results indicate that the high-temperature performance, low-temperature performance, and water stability of the microwave asphalt mixtures all meet the specification requirements for pavement performance. Subsequently, after 15 freeze–thaw cycles, the splitting tensile strength retention rate and stiffness modulus of the two types of mixtures show minimal differences from those of ordinary mixtures, and there is no durability degradation caused by the incorporation of magnetite powder. Finally, outdoor environment verification is carried out, and the results show that under complex conditions such as environmental factors, the wave absorption and temperature rise rates of AC and SMA mixtures at optimal contents are 52.2% and 14.6% higher than those of ordinary AC and SMA asphalt mixtures, respectively. In addition, these microwave asphalt mixtures have the advantages of both sustainability and reduced carbon emissions. By combining simulation methods and experimental verification, this study finally prepared two types of microwave asphalt mixtures with excellent performance, not only improving the microwave absorption and heating performance of asphalt mixtures, but also reducing environmental pollution and energy consumption, which conforms to the development of green transportation. Full article

The application of hot in-place recycling asphalt mixtures (HIRAMs) is gaining increasing attention in highway maintenance due to its environmental and economic benefits. This paper comprehensively reviews and discusses the state-of-the-art studies in the field of hot in-place recycling (HIR). Firstly, different HIR technologies are introduced, including surface recycling, remixing, and repaving. Then, this paper provides a detailed description of the key factors influencing the road performance of HIRAMs in terms of both materials and production, such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), rejuvenators, virgin asphalt, virgin asphalt mixtures, preheating temperature, and mixing time. Furthermore, the environmental and economic benefits of HIR are compared with other preventative maintenance and recycling technologies. Finally, some challenges for the investigation of HIR are further discussed, and the corresponding suggestions are recommended for future investigation. Full article

Hot in-place recycling (HIR) is a sustainable pavement rehabilitation method. However, it is susceptible to aging processes that can compromise its mechanical properties and long-term performance. This study investigates the effects of thermo-oxidative (TO) and ultraviolet (UV) aging on HIR mixtures. Basic performance tests were conducted on the aggregate gradation, moisture content, and asphalt content of the reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) to assess the aging level. Simulations of long-term and short-term oxidative aging of the HIR mixture, along with 12 months of UV irradiation, were performed to evaluate its high-temperature stability, low-temperature crack resistance, and water stability. The Verhulst model was employed to establish a predictive equation for performance attenuation under UV aging. To quantify the photoaging effect, indicators for UV aging degree were proposed to characterize the road performance of the HIR mixture, including the aging rate and the aging residual index. Results indicate that the improvement in high-temperature performance after aging is limited, but cracking resistance decreases substantially. Notably, the flexural tensile strain was reduced by 129.25 με for 10 years of TO aging compared to 12 months of UV exposure, underscoring the importance of considering environmental factors in performance predictions. This study emphasizes the need for enhanced aging mitigation strategies to improve the sustainability and reliability of HIR mixtures in practical applications. Full article

This study endeavors to employ a balanced design methodology, aiming to equilibrate the resistance to rutting and cracking exhibited by hot in-place recycling asphalt mixtures containing a high dose of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). The primary goal is to ascertain the optimal amount of new binder necessary for practical engineering applications, ensuring a balanced rutting and crack resistance performance of recycled asphalt mixtures. The investigation mainly employed wheel-tracking tests and semi-circular bending tests to assess the rutting and cracking performance of recycled asphalt mixtures with a different dose of RAP (in China, it is common to use RAP with 80% and 90% content as additives for preparing hot in-place recycling asphalt mixtures), and varying quantities of new binders (10%, 20%, and 30% of the binder content in the total RAP added). The results indicated that the addition of new binder reduced the resistance to rutting of the recycling asphalt mixtures but improved their resistance to cracking. Furthermore, for the recycling asphalt mixture with 80% RAP content aged for 5 days, the optimal new binder content is 1.52%, while the mixture with 90% RAP content requires 1.23% of new binder. After 10 days of aging, the optimal new binder content for the recycling asphalt mixture with 80% RAP content is 1.55%, while the mixture with 90% RAP content requires 1.28% of new binder. Full article

In the context of green and low-carbon development, energy saving, and emission reduction, hot recycling technology (RT) has been researched, which is divided into hot central plant RT and hot in-place RT. However, due to the aged asphalt binders, the shortcomings of hot recycled asphalt mixtures have become apparent, as in comparison to new asphalt mixtures, their resistance to cracking was inferior and the cracking resistance deteriorated more rapidly. Therefore, it was very necessary to focus on the improvement of crack resistance of hot recycled asphalt mixtures. Basalt fiber has been proved to be able to effectively improve the comprehensive road performance of new asphalt mixtures. Therefore, this paper introduced basalt fiber to hot central plant recycled and hot in-place recycled asphalt mixtures, in order to improve the crack resistance of asphalt as a new type of fiber stabilizer. Firstly, six types of SMA-13 fiber asphalt mixtures were designed and prepared, i.e., hot mixtures with basalt fiber or lignin fiber, hot central plant recycled mixtures with basalt fiber or lignin fiber, and hot in-place recycled mixtures with basalt fiber or lignin fiber. Secondly, the trabecular bending test, low-temperature creep test, semi-circular bending test, and IDEAL-CT were used to comparatively study the changing patterns of low and intermediate temperature cracking resistance of hot recycled mixtures with conventional lignin fibers or basalt fibers. Finally, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation of the different cracking resistance indicators. The results show that the low and intermediate temperature cracking resistance of hot central plant recycled mixtures increased by 45.6% (dissipative energy ratio, W_d/W_s) and 74.8% (flexibility index, FI), respectively. And the corresponding cracking resistance of hot in-place recycled mixture increased by 105.4% (W_d/W_s) and 55.7% (FI). The trabecular bending test was more suitable for testing the low-temperature cracking resistance of hot recycled asphalt mixtures, while the IDEAL-CT was more suitable for testing the intermediate-temperature cracking resistance. The results can provide useful references for the utilization of basalt fiber in the hot recycling of SMA-13 asphalt mixtures. Full article

With increasing societal attention being directed to resource and environment problems, the research focus on high reclaimed asphalt content mixtures has become pertinent. The degree of asphalt fusion in the thermal regeneration process of a high RAP content reclaimed asphalt mixture has a great influence on its performance. In order to explore the development process of hot in-place recycling mixture performance along with internal asphalt fusion, this study conducted research on a geothermal regeneration mixture with 80% RAP content. Dynamic shear rheology (DSR), infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the fusion of recycled mixture under different placement times (1 day, 4 days, and 7 days), and the road performance and fatigue life of the recycled mixture under different placement times were then studied. The results showed that the fusion degree of old asphalt and new asphalt in a recycled asphalt mixture reached 100%, and gradually increased with the extension of placement time. With the increase in placement time, the high temperature performance of the regenerated mixture gradually decreased, the water stability gradually increased, and the low-temperature performance and fatigue life significantly increased from 1 day to 7 days, by 19% and 32%, respectively. Full article

The substantial accumulation of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) poses a pressing issue in road construction. The hot in-place recycling (HIR) technique has garnered widespread attention due to its high recycling rates of RAP and minimal environmental hazards. This study focuses on the RAP analysis, compaction characteristics, and field evaluation of hot in-place recycled asphalt pavements (HIRAP). Firstly, a novel test method of RAP analysis was proposed to evaluate the suitability of RAP. Subsequently, compaction tests reveal the compaction characteristics of hot in-place recycled asphalt mixture (HIRAM). Finally, the field performance of HIRAP was assessed. The research findings indicate that the RAP analysis method can accurately characterize the status of RAP. Increasing the RAP temperature improves the compaction characteristics of HIRAM. The field tests show that using HIR technology improves the performance of the pavement, in particular with a compaction of 99.7%. This study will establish a theoretical foundation for further promoting the HIR technique. Full article

This study investigates the application of foam asphalt (FA) to enhance the compaction effectiveness of a hot in-place recycling asphalt mixture (HIR-AM) during the HIR process of old road surfaces. Initially, the process parameters for FA preparation were determined through expansion-rate and half-life tests. Subsequently, the study focused on evaluating the impact of FA on the compaction quality of HIR-AM. Performance assessments were conducted through rutting tests, low-temperature bending tests, Hamburg wheel tracking tests, dynamic modulus analyses, and various other experiments to evaluate the road performance of HIR-FAM. Finally, the research findings were validated through practical engineering applications, and the construction process for HIR-FAM was summarized. The research results reveal that the optimal foaming temperature for SBS asphalt is 170 °C, with an ideal water content of 1.7%. Under the same compaction temperature, HIR-FAM demonstrated a significant reduction in void content, ranging from 3.8% to 21.2% compared to HIR-AM. Moreover, a higher proportion of FA usage resulted in a more substantial decrease in void content. Compared to HIR-AM, HIR-FAM exhibited notable improvements, including an 11.6% increase in dynamic stability, a 13.4% enhancement in bending strength, a 13.3% increase in maximum bending strain, an 8.1% improvement in residual stability, and an 8.5% boost in freeze–thaw splitting strength. Furthermore, HIR-FAM demonstrated superior water-thermal stability and resistance to low-frequency loads. Paving a test road verified that the adoption of foam asphalt in thermal recycling led to a compaction density increase of over 0.79% compared to traditional in situ thermal recycling sections, with improved compaction uniformity. Full article

In this paper, the key technologies in the construction process of hot in-place recycling were investigated in order to improve the utilization rate of waste asphalt mixture; traditional lab tests including penetration, softening point and ductility tests, atomic force microscope test of recycled asphalt under different rejuvenator content, and the test of milling on grading at different temperatures were carried out. The influence of RAP content and rejuvenation processes on road performance were studied, and the low-temperature performance of mixture was analyzed by the energy analysis method, and the evaluation index was proposed. Test results indicated that the penetration and ductility increases, the softening point decrease with the rejuvenator content increasing, and the optimum rejuvenator content is 4%. The optimum mixing and compaction temperature will decrease by 2–6 °C on average for every 10% increase of RAP content by analyzing the mixture volume index. The results showed enhance rutting resistance of the mixture but lower moisture resistance and low-temperature crack resistance by adding the RAP content. The strain energy density of 10 KJ/m³ is proposed to evaluate the low-temperature performance of the mixture, and 30% RAP produces optimal mixture. The higher rutting resistance and moisture resistance can be obtained by using the construction process of RAP+ rejuvenator co-heating, and higher low-temperature crack resistance with RAP+ rejuvenator without heating. Full article

The planning of road infrastructure undergoes major changes, especially in terms of sustainable development. Recycling of pavement structures involves the reuse of materials from existing pavement structures due to its timesaving and environmental benefits, as well as cost reduction. According to the recycling temperature, recycling can be hot and cold. This paper deals with cold in-place recycling and the determination of the optimum fluid content for by-product materials in mixtures compared with one containing natural zeolite. The content of bitumen emulsion and cement—which are the most used materials so far in cold recycling along with foam bitumen—was replaced with fly ash, slag or natural zeolite, and bakelite, respectively, while recycled asphalt pavement from Serbia (Žabalj) was used. Six different mixtures were made. The mixture with the addition of fly ash had the highest optimum fluid content (7.6%) compared with all test mixtures. Mixtures with slag, natural zeolite, and bakelite were in the range of a mixture containing 2% cement. Furthermore, the mixture with 3% cement had the lowest optimum fluid content (5.7%) in comparison to all the mixtures that were tested. Full article

The pursuit of sustainability in the field of road asphalt pavements calls for effective decision-making strategies, referring to both the technical and environmental sustainability of the solutions. This study aims to compare the life cycle impacts of several pavement solution alternatives involving, in the binder and base layers, some eco-designed, hot- and cold-produced asphalt mixtures made up of recycled aggregates in substitution for natural filler and commercial recycled polymer pellets for dry mixture modification. The first step focused on the technical and environmental compatibility assessment of the construction and demolition waste (CDW), jet grouting waste (JGW), fly ash (FA), and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Then, three non-traditional mixtures were designed for the binder layer and three for the base layer and characterized in terms of the stiffness modulus. Asphalt pavement design allowed for the definition of the functional units of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which was applied to all of the pavement configurations under analysis in a “from cradle to grave” approach. The LCA results showed that the best performance was reached for the solutions involving a cold, in-place recycled mixture made up of RAP and JGW in the base layer, which lowered all the impact category indicators by 31% on average compared to those of the traditional pavement solution. Further considerations highlighted that the combination of a cold base layer with a hot asphalt mixture made up of CDW or FA in the binder layer also maximized the service life of the pavement solution, providing the best synergistic effect. Full article