Effect of Recycling Rate and Asphalt Binder on the Performance of Recycled Asphalt Concrete for Airport Pavement Rehabilitation

ABSTRACT Aimed to prompt the extensive use of reclaimed asphalt aggregate (RAA) in airport pavement rehabilitation, a series of laboratory tests are conducted to intensively evaluate the effect of recycling rate and asphalt binder on the performances of recycled asphalt concrete (RAC). The results indicate that rutting resistance of RAC using either straight or modified asphalt binder increases with the increase of recycling rate, while the opposite trend is found in low temperature properties (increase in stiffness) and fatigue performance. The modified asphalt used does not exhibit superiority for producing RAC compared with straight asphalt except in rutting resistance. Increasing the recycling rate to 70% is feasible in the case of RAC using straight asphalt judging from its comparable and even superior performance to the control SRAC (contain 40% RAA) in terms of resistance to rutting, ravelling, moisture stripping and thermal cracking. It seems possible to use it in surface courses devoted to airport sections where fatigue processes are not prevalent.