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RECLAIMED ASPHALT PAVEMENTUser Guideline


Asphalt Concrete (Hot Recycling)

INTRODUCTION

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that of the 90 million tons of hot mix asphalt (HMA) removed every year, 90% is reused in highway applications. Approximately 30 million tons of HMA removed is recycled back into HMA pavements, this translates into a savings of about $300 million annually by reducing material and disposal costs (20,40) . Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) can be used as an aggregate in the hot recycling of asphalt paving mixtures in one of two ways. The most common method (conventional recycled hot mix) involves a process in which RAP is combined with virgin aggregate and new asphalt cement in a central mixing plant to produce new hot mix paving mixtures. (1) A second method (hot in-place recycling) involves a process in which asphalt pavement surface distress is corrected by softening the existing surface with heat, mechanically removing the pavement surface, mixing it with a recycling or rejuvenating agent, possibly adding virgin asphalt and/or aggregate, and replacing it on the pavement without removing the recycled material from the pavement site. (14)

PERFORMANCE RECORD

Although some form of pavement recycling had been practiced as early as 1915, (23) the first sustained efforts to recover and reuse old asphalt paving materials were conducted during 1974 in Nevada and Texas. (41) Bolstered by the sponsorship of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), more than 40 states performed and documented RAP demonstration projects between 1976 and 1982.

RAP is now routinely accepted in asphalt paving mixtures as an aggregate substitute and as a portion of the binder in nearly all 50 states. Substitution rates of 10 to 50 percent or more, depending on state specifications, are normally introduced in pavements, and recently developed technology has even made it possible to recycle 90 to 100 percent RAP in hot mix.

Recycled Hot Mix

This recycling technology is currently the most widespread technology used in the world. Hot recycling involves combining RAP with virgin aggregates, new asphalt binder and/or recycling agents in a central processing plant to produce a recycled mix. This method employs the heat transfer method to soften the RAP. When heat transfer is used to soften RAP it is crucial that the moisture in the RAP be at a practical minimum. Extra moisture within the RAP will decrease the production rate, as the heat is first consumed to convert the moisture to steam before the RAP is softened (13) .

The use of processed RAP to produce conventional recycled hot mix (RHM) is the most common type of asphalt recycling and is now considered standard asphalt paving practice. There are abundant technical data available indicating that properly specified and produced recycled hot mix asphalt is equivalent in quality and structural performance to conventional hot mix asphalt in terms of rutting, raveling, weathering, and fatigue cracking. Recycled hot mix asphalt mixtures also generally age more slowly and are more resistant to the action of water than conventional hot mix asphalt. (See references 2,13,16,18,22,26,28,29,30,36 and 37.)

The maximum limit for RAP content in RHM produced in conventional hot mix asphalt batch plants is widely considered to be 50 percent, limited by both the heat capacity of the plants and gaseous hydrocarbon emissions. As much as 60 to 70 percent RAP may be processed in drum mix plants. Special plants based on microwave technology have been developed to limit gaseous emissions from hot mix asphalt production using very high RAP contents (up to 100 percent RAP), but the cost of heating is much higher than that of conventional systems. This process was developed in California and has only seen limited use. (24) Currently the ratio of RAP to virgin aggregates in batch plants is between 15-25 percent and 30-50 percent for drum mix plants (13) .

Advantages to hot recycling include (13) :

  • Conservation of non-renewable resources
  • Energy conservation compared to other reconstruction methods
  • Disposal problems are eliminated
  • Problems with existing aggregate gradation and/or asphalt binder can be corrected with proper selection of virgin aggregates, asphalt binders and/or recycling agents
  • Provides the same, if not better, performance as pavements constructed with 100% virgin materials
  • Economic savings

Hot In-Place Recycling

Hot in-place recycling (HIR) allows for 100% recycling of the existing asphalt pavement onsite. Depths of treatment typically range from ¾- 2 inches. In this process the existing asphalt is heated and softened, which allows it to be lifted or hot rotary milled to a specific depth. The pavement is then mixed, placed and compacted. Virgin aggregates, new asphalt binder, recycling agents and/or new HMA can be added as needed. Typically the virgin aggregate or HMA addition is limited by equipment constraints to about 30% by mass of the HIR mix. The rates at which additives may be added are determined through the analysis of the existing asphalt pavement properties and laboratory mix designs (13) .

There are three HIR processes: 1. Surface Recycling, 2. Remixing and 3. Repaving. There are multiple pieces of equipment used in HIR and they include pre-heaters, heaters, heater/sacrificers, mixers, pavers and rollers. Surface recycling, the oldest HIR process is typically used to treat depths from ¾ in to 1 ½ in. This process requires the softening of the surface layer of pavement. The softened pavement is then sacrificed to the desired treatment depth. The loose recycled mix is then thoroughly mixed and placed with a standard paver screed. The remixing process is when the existing pavement is heated, softened and then sacrificed. The sacrificed pavement is then mixed with virgin aggregate, new asphalt binder, a recycling agent and/or new HMA may be added. This mixture is then placed in one layer. Remixing is used when the properties of the existing pavement need to be significantly altered. Repaving includes both surface recycling and remixing processes. The recycled mix is used as the leveling course and a new HMA mixture is used as the surface or wearing course. The thickness of the new HMA can range from ¾ in to 3 in thick (13) .

Advantages to HIR (13) :

  • Conservation of non-renewable resources
  • Energy conservation compared to other reconstruction methods
  • Reduced truck hauling compared with other rehabilitation methods
  • Eliminates disposal problems
  • Treatment of complete roadway width or only the driving lanes
  • Surface irregularities and cracks are interrupted and filled
  • Rutting, potholes and raveling are eliminated
  • Curb reveal height and overhead clearance can be maintained
  • Oxidized asphalt binder can be rejuvenated
  • Problems with existing aggregate gradation and/or asphalt binder can be corrected
  • Friction numbers can be restored
  • Roadway opened to traffic at end of day with little or no edge drop off
  • Economic savings

Pavements that exhibit structural base failure, irregular patching or the need for major drainage or grade improvements are not suitable candidates for HIR. (14) HIR is an effective method for treating raveling, potholes, bleeding, friction number, rutting, corrugations, shoving, slippage, cracking (longitudinal, transverse and reflection) as well as poor ride quality, which may be caused by swells, bumps, sags or depressions (13) .

Not all states have experience in HIR applications, although HIPR technology is a fairly well accepted practice. There are 32 states that report having some experience with HIPR, although 22 of these states consider their use of HIPR to be experimental. The 10 states that have the most experience with HIR are Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. None of these states has had more than five HIR projects per year. A survey of these states found that, in general, all have reported good or fair performance. (14)

The survey of HIR experience at the state DOT level further indicated that the use of the three different HIR processes has been fairly evenly divided, with 13 states having had some experience with heater-scarification, and 16 states each having some experience with either the repaving or the remixing process. Of the 10 states with the most HIR experience, 5 have used heater-scarification, 4 have used the repaving process, and 6 have used the remixing process. (14)

MATERIAL PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS

Recycled Hot Mix

Reclaimed asphalt pavement must be processed into a granular material prior to use in hot mix applications. A typical RAP processing plant consists of a crusher, screening units, conveyors, and stacker. It is desirable to produce either a coarse or a fine fraction of processed RAP to permit better control over input to the hot mix plant and better control of the mix design. The processed RAP used in recycled hot mix asphalt should be as coarse as possible and the fines (minus 0.075 mm (No. 200 sieve)) minimized. Gentle RAP crushing (controlled crusher speed and clearance adjustment on exit gate) is recommended to minimize the fracture of coarse aggregate and excess fines generation.

Hot In-Place Recycling

In the HIPR process, the surface of the pavement must be softened with heat prior to mechanical scarification. The HIPR process has evolved into a self-contained, continuous train operation that includes heating, scarifying, rejuvenator addition, mixing, and replacement.

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES

Some of the engineering properties of RAP that are of particular interest when RAP is incorporated into new asphalt pavements include its gradation, asphalt content, and the penetration and viscosity of the asphalt binder.

Gradation : The aggregate gradation of processed RAP is somewhat finer than virgin aggregate. This is due to mechanical degradation during asphalt pavement removal and processing. RAP aggregates usually can satisfy the requirements of ASTM D692 "Coarse Aggregates for Bituminous Pavement Mixtures" and ASTM D1073 "Fine Aggregate for Bituminous Pavement Mixtures." (2,10)

Asphalt Content and Properties : The asphalt content of most old pavements will comprise approximately 3 to 7 percent by weight and 10 to 20 percent by volume of the pavement. Due to oxidation aging, the asphalt cement has hardened and consequently is more viscous and has lower penetration values than the virgin asphalt cement. Depending on the amount of time the original pavement had been in service, recovered RAP binder may have penetration values from 10 to 80 and absolute viscosity values at 60°C (140°F) in a range from as low as 2,000 poises to as high 50,000 poises or greater. (19)

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Recycled Hot Mix

Mix Design

The use of processed RAP in hot mix asphalt pavements is now standard practice in most jurisdictions and is referenced in ASTM D3515. (7) The primary steps in the design of mixes include the determination of material properties of RAP and new materials, the selection of an appropriate blend of RAP and virgin aggregate to meet gradation, the selection of an appropriate asphalt cement blend to satisfy specified viscosity and/or penetration requirements, the need to add a recycling or rejuvenating agent to soften the existing binder, and the need to comply with stability, flow, and air voids requirements.

The first mix designs for the successful inclusion of RAP in HMA mixes were been designed over 15 years ago. Historically, either the Marshall (3) or the Hveem (4) mix design procedures were used by most state agencies for determining the asphalt cement and acceptable RAP content of recycled paving mixes. (1) Today there are additional mix designs which can be used to successfully incorporate RAP into HMA mixes. These mix designs range from low percentages of RAP to high percentages of RAP and Superpave mixes. (16,20,25,31) It is important to note that it has been demonstrated that RAP can successfully be incorporated in Superpave technology. (16,20,25) Recent research focuses on finding new, more efficient tests to determine various parameters of RAP and appropriate mix designs. (39)

In order to determine how to design a mix, the recycled mixtures must be evaluated. Recycled mixtures should be evaluated on a 3 tier basis. Tier 1 is mixtures that include up to 15% Rap and do not require anything be changed in the mix design process. Tier 2 includes mixtures with 15%-25% RAP. Tier 2 mixtures require the asphalt grade be dropped by one grade on the high and low ends of the PG grade. Finally tier 3 mixtures include more than 25% RAP and these mixes require that asphalt be recovered from the RAP and be blended with virgin asphalt to produce a blended asphalt with the desired properties (25) .

Recycling and rejuvenating agents can be divided into three main types: "super-soft" asphalt cements, napthenic (aromatic) oils, and paraffinic oils. These products consist of organic compounds derived from petroleum extracts during petroleum hydrocarbon processing. ASTM D4552 (8) provides a classification of recycling or rejuvenating agents.

Procedures for selecting the quality of asphalt cement or recycling agent are outlined in ASTM D4887. (9) This specification includes a viscosity blending chart, which enables the designer to determine the percentage of recycling or rejuvenating agent (or soft asphalt cement) to add to the total binder in order to achieve a desired value of absolute viscosity for the recycled asphalt cement. The Asphalt Institute's manual on asphalt hot mix recycling also provides trial mix design examples that indicate how to use a viscosity blending chart to design a recycled hot mix.

The Asphalt Institute's manual on mix design methods for asphalt concrete (32) provides a method to determine necessary mix design characteristics (such as stability, flow, and air voids content) for either the Marshall or the Hveem mix design methods. The final mix design proportions for the recycled hot mix paving mixture will be determined by completing mix design testing using standard procedures to satisfy applicable mix design criteria.

Additional virgin aggregates may be required to satisfy gradation requirements to improve stability and to limit the RAP content in recycled hot mixes. In the production of hot mix, superheated virgin aggregate is needed to provide indirect heat transfer to the RAP while maintaining the proper mix temperature without the generation of "blue smoke."

Structural Design

Conventional AASHTO pavement structural design methods are appropriate for asphalt pavements incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement in the mix.

Hot In-Place Recycling

Mix Design

Mix design procedures for HIR have remained relatively unchanged for a long time. There is a potential that the Superpave system may be applied to HIR mix design. Traditional HIR mix design includes some or all of the following steps: 1. Evaluation of the existing HMA asphalt, 2. Determining whether the existing asphalt binder needs rejuvenation, 3. Selecting the type and amount of recycling agent, 4. Determining the need for and amount of admix including aggregate gradation, type and amount of soft, new asphalt binder. (13)

Mix design procedures for HIR are not as well established as those for conventional recycled hot mix. Many states as a minimum require that cores be taken of the candidate pavement to determine in-place pavement properties, including binder content, viscosity, and aggregate grading. (14) Original HIR mix designs primarily focused on the viscosity of aged asphalt binder and the amount of rejuvenation required. HIR mix designs that are more comprehensive not only address the rheological properties of the asphalt binder, they also consider the recycled mix properties . (13)

The material properties of the existing asphalt pavement (to at least the depth of scarification) should be determined prior to construction in order to permit any necessary adjustments to aggregate gradation to develop the required voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) and selection of the appropriate viscosity binder. This will require coring of the pavement to be recycled and laboratory testing of the recovered paving samples.

Unlike conventional recycled hot mix where the RAP is combined with a significant amount of new aggregate material (making up typically between 60 to 80 percent of the RHM), HIPR may involve up to 100 percent recycling of the existing pavement. Consequently, the extent to which the existing pavement can be improved or modified is limited by the condition and characteristics of the old mix.

The amount of rejuvenating agent that can be added through HIRP is limited by the air voids content of the existing asphalt. When the air voids content of the old asphalt mix is too low to accommodate sufficient recycling agent for proper rejuvenation or softening of the old asphalt binder without mix flushing, it may be necessary to add additional fine aggregate or to beneficiate with virgin hot mix to open up the mix or increase the air voids. The selection of the appropriate addition (either fine aggregate or virgin hot mix), and the amount to be added, are determined by Marshall or Hveem mix design methods.

The type of recycling or rejuvenating agent and the percentage to be added to the binder can be estimated using procedures outlined in ASTM methods D4552 (8) and D4887. (9) The recycling or rejuvenating agent, if used, should be compatible with the recycled and new asphalt binder. Currently HIR recycling agents are hydrocarbon materials. They may include soft asphalt binders, specialty/proprietary products or some types of asphalt emulsions. The least expensive of these are soft asphalt binders, however they are also not as efficient at rejuvenation. (13)

Structural Design

HIR is generally considered a rehabilitation technique for addressing superficial pavement distress to a maximum depth of about 1 ½ in. The recycled layer is considered to be structurally equivalent to new hot mix asphalt.

CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES

Recycled Hot Mix

Material Handling and Storage

RAP is produced by milling, ripping, breaking, crushing, or pulverizing types of equipment. To ensure that the final RAP product will perform as intended, inspection of incoming RAP with rejection of contaminated loads (excess granular material, surface treatment, joint sealant, etc.) should be undertaken. Some jurisdictions also require that RAP from a particular project not be blended or commingled with RAP from other projects.

Once processed, RAP has traditionally been handled as a conventional aggregate material. Historically, because of the variability of RAP in comparison with virgin aggregates, many agencies do not permit the blending of RAP from different projects into combined stockpiles. The Asphalt Institute recommended that the height of RAP stockpiles be limited to a maximum of 3 meters (10 ft) to help prevent agglomeration or sticking together of the RAP particles. (1) Stockpiling time should also be minimized to keep the moisture content of RAP stockpiles from becoming excessive.

Experience has proven that conical stockpiles are preferred to horizontal stockpiles and will not cause RAP to re-agglomerate in large piles. RAP has the tendency to form a crust (due to a solar/thermal effect from the sun) over the first 8 to 12 in of pile depth for both conical and horizontal stockpiles. This crust tends to help shed water, but is easily broken by a front-end loader, and may help keep the rest of the pile from agglomerating. RAP has a tendency to hold water and not to drain over time like an aggregate stockpile. Therefore, low, horizontal, flat stockpiles are subject to greater moisture accumulation than tall, conical stockpiles. It is not unusual to find RAP moisture content in the 7 to 8 percent range during the rainy season at facilities using low, horizontal stockpiling techniques. (13,16)

RAP stockpiles are typically left uncovered because covering with tarps can cause condensation under the tarp and add moisture to the RAP stockpile. For this reason, RAP stockpiles are either left uncovered or RAP is stored in an open-sided building, but under a roof. (13,16) Some producers are beginning to pave underneath the RAP stockpiles. This practice may help to improve stockpile drainage (when graded properly) and it reduces potential moisture absorption from the ground. Possible contamination is also eliminated when a front-end loader collects materials from close to grade level. (16)

When large quantities of RAP from different sources are available, it is advisable to keep stockpiles separated and identified by source. Consistent RAP from a "composite" or "blended" pile can be produced using a crushing and screening operation and reprocessing stockpiles that come to the yard from different sources. Material handling machinery, such as front-end loaders and bulldozers, should be kept from driving directly on the stockpile. Agglomerating RAP particles can make it very difficult for the loader to handle the RAP.

Mixing, Placing and Compacting

When RAP is added to hot mix asphalt, measures must be taken to avoid exposing the RAP to temperatures in excess of 427°C (800°:F). Exposure of the RAP to temperatures above this limit can result in excessive hydrocarbon emissions (blue smoke). To reduce this problem, hot mix asphalt plants have been modified to permit the recycling of RAP. (21)

In a batch plant operation, the RAP is usually added to superheated new aggregate at the pugmill. In drum-mix plants, RAP is usually introduced with new aggregate into the drum using a dual feed system. The new aggregate is typically introduced at the hot end of the drum (normally the front end of the drum), while the RAP is introduced at the middle or rear of the drum to prevent overheating damage to the RAP. (16,33)

In a batch plant, typical RAP substitution rates are limited by the heat capacity of the plant and the ability to superheat the aggregate to temperatures that will produce a suitable mix temperature. This normally limits batch plant blends to between 10 and 30 percent RAP. In a drum mix plant, from 30 to 70 percent RAP. As a general rule, gaseous emissions are typically undesirable with RAP percentages above 50 percent . (16)

No special techniques or equipment is necessary for laydown and compaction of recycled mixtures. It is important to note that recycled mixtures are typically placed at slightly cooler temperatures than virgin mixtures in an effort to reduce the negative impact of superheated temperatures, the paving crew may find rolling and compacting times reduced. Conventional materials, techniques and indicators are all relevant. (16)

Quality Control

To produce consistently high-quality recycled hot mix asphalt, the need for systematic quality control of the RAP is essential. The process should be monitored for processed RAP moisture content, gradation, and asphalt cement content. (17) Controlled plant operations have been developed to produce a consistent (homogeneous) RAP. Extraction tests to monitor the RAP gradation and asphalt cement content, and penetration and viscosity tests on the recovered asphalt cement, should be performed regularly to monitor the RAP characteristics for comparison with the job mix formula and enable appropriate adjustments to the mix.

The same field testing procedures used for conventional hot mix asphalt mixes should be used for mixes containing reclaimed asphalt pavement. Mixes should be sampled in accordance with AASHTO T168, (11) and tested for specific gravity in accordance with ASTM D2726 (5) and in-place density in accordance with ASTM D2950. (6)

Hot In-Place Recycling

Mixing, Placing and Compacting

There are three basic HIR construction processes in use: surface recycling, repaving, and remixing. All involve a specialized plant in a continuous train operation.

Surface recycling involves a plant that heats the pavement surface (typically using propane radiant heaters), scarifies or loosens the pavement surface using a bank of non-rotating teeth, such as a spring loaded leveling rake/scaring teeth/ tines. A liquid rejuvenating additive is added, and then mixed, traditionally in a set of standard augers. The recycled asphalt pavement is then compacted using conventional compaction equipment. (13) The process is limited in its ability to repair severely rutted pavements, which are often overlaid with conventional hot mix asphalt.

Repaving is a more sophisticated process that includes removing (by heating and scarification and/or grinding) the top 1 to 2 in of the old asphalt pavement, adding and mixing in a rejuvenating agent to improve asphalt viscosity, placing the recycled material as a leveling course using a primary screed, and simultaneously placing a thin (usually less than 1 in but up to 2 in some systems) hot mix asphalt overlay. Conventional equipment and procedures are used immediately behind the train to compact both layers of material to ensure a monolithic bond between the new and recycled layer. (35)

The remixing process is used when additional aggregates are required to improve the strength or stability of the recycled asphalt concrete. Scarified or milled RAP is blended with rejuvenator and new virgin aggregate or new hot mix asphalt, then placed by a compacting screed. Conventional equipment and procedures are used to place and compact the remixed material.

Quality Control

The initial step in the quality control of hot in-place recycled mixes is in the selection of the pavement to be recycled. Not all pavements are good candidates for this type of recycling. Cores of the pavement being considered for HIPR must be taken during the early planning for the project. The cores should first be visually examined for pavement problems such as delaminations, stripping, or stripping potential, or water in the voids or delaminations. Pavements with delaminations, especially saturated delaminations, in the top 5 cm (2 in) should not be considered for HIPR projects. Also, pavements that have been rutted, heavily patched, or chip-sealed are not good candidates for HIPR projects.

Next, as noted in the Mix Design section, field core specimens should be analyzed in the laboratory to determine (based on the asphalt content, viscosity, and penetration of the recovered binder) the required amount of rejuvenating agent to be added to the mix in order to attain the desired viscosity of the recycled mix. If too much rejuvenating agent (1.0 percent or more by weight of mix) must be added in order to attain this viscosity, the mix should probably not be recycled in place. As a guideline, pavements being considered for HIPR should not be too severely aged. It is recommended that such pavements have an absolute viscosity lower that 200,000 poises (and preferably below 100,000 poises) in order to be considered for HIPR projects. (38)

Field core specimens should also be evaluated for air voids content during the pavement selection process. An existing pavement being considered for HIPR should have an air voids content in excess of 6 percent, in order to accommodate the addition of a rejuvenating agent without the loss of stability in the recycled mix. If material properties are not completely satisfactory for 100 percent recycling, the addition of 20 to 30 percent by weight of virgin hot mix during recycling should be considered. (38)

Field quality control measures during HIPR operations include monitoring the depth of scarification, the temperature of the recycled mix, the visual appearance and homogeneity of the scarified or milled RAP, the compaction procedure, and the visual appearance of the recycled pavement surface after compaction. Loose samples of the recycled mix should be obtained and extraction tests performed to monitor RAP gradation, asphalt cement and air voids contents, and penetration and viscosity of the recovered asphalt binder for comparison with the job mix formula. (27) The recycled mix should be monitored for in-place density in accordance with ASTM D2950. (6)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Asphalt pavement consists of aggregate and petroleum derived asphalt binder containing volatile and semi-volatile constituents (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) Additionally the asphalt pavement roadway may contain surface treatments, rubberized materials or contaminants from vehicle or other emissions (e.g., historically lead). The environmental issues are different for RAP based upon various beneficial uses. For bound applications such as hot-in-place recycling, research into the difference in emissions to that of virgin materials have not been conducted. Leachability would be a concern if RAP was stockpiled or stored and exposed to precipitation. Testing has been conducted to determine the leaching characteristics of RAP in Florida. In all batch tests measurements of VOCs, PAHs, and heavy metals (Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn) were below the detection level and below the applicable state regulatory groundwater guidance concentrations. This indicates that all RAP samples tested pose minimal risk under current waste policy in Florida. Lysimeter (column leaching) tests were also performed and columns were exposed to synthetic precipitation for 42 days. The VOC, PAH and heavy metal (Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn) measurements were all below detection limits, except for lead which exhibited a concentration of 24 µg/L and 23 µg/L on days 12 and 14 of the experiment, but then was otherwise below the applicable Florida Groundwater Guidance Concentration (15 µg/L) for the duration of the experiment. (42) Other batch and column leaching tests were completed on RAP which also found constituents leached were low and generally below European drinking water standards (The Drinking Water Directive (DWD), Council Directive 98/83/EC). (43) Additionally, the University of Minnesota completed a review of current literature on PAHs in asphalt pavement concluding that PAH concentrations depend on the type of pavement (coal-tar versus petroleum based). Petroleum based asphalt pavement contained PAHs at concentrations below Minnesota Pollution Control Agency human health risk clean-up levels (44). The only exceedance was when when PAHs were converted to benzo(a)pyrene equivalents, they could exceed the lowest limit (Tier I). The report further concluded that when RAP is used as subbase aggregate, it is mixed with soils or other aggregates that do not contain PAH, so this mixture would not likely exceed applicable limits. (44)

UNRESOLVED ISSUES

While the asphalt pavement recycling technologies are well established, there is still need for additional performance information, particularly with regard to the maximum percentages of RAP that can be incorporated in relation to creep (rutting resistance), fatigue endurance and durability, and the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement in premium surface course mixes and Superpave. There is also a need for more correlation of field and laboratory measurements to refine guidelines for laboratory prediction of field performance (for instance, laboratory curing procedures that best simulate field conditions).

Some additional issues that require resolution include:

  • further information on the variability of RAP, especially from blended stockpiles;
  • an environmental code of practice regarding gaseous emissions from hot mix plant recycling and HIPR (see above);
  • the suitability of HIPR for surface-treated and rubberized materials; and
  • evaluation methodologies for structural characterization of HIPR asphalt concrete and CIPR asphalt concrete.

REFERENCES

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[ Material Description ] - [ Asphalt Concrete (Hot Recycling) ] - [ Asphalt Concrete (Cold Recycling) ] - [ Granular Base ] - [ Embankment or Fill ]

Last Update 7/28/08