A Numerical-Experimental Method for Characterizing Recycled Asphalt Mixtures

ABSTRACT Experimental techniques usually employed in the characterization of conventional mixes are not able to clearly describe some specific properties of the recycled mixes, which are determinant in the material's mechanical response like cracking strength or tenacity. These new specific properties demands new methods of testing to know the really conditioning mechanical variables taking part in the process, so that being able to characterize and design new recycled mixes in an optimum way. In this paper, the direct tensile test is analyzed as a suitable method for evaluating the properties of recycled asphalt mixtures for different percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement. A constitutive formulation has been developed to simulate the experimental results and can be used in conjunction with the experimental analysis of the recycled asphalt properties to provide an accurate characterization of the material. KEYWORDS: Recycled Asphalt MixtureCrackingTenacityDirect Tensile TestViscoplasticity