Pavement Analysis and Design

Tallan, Jeffrey L.

Student Work

Pavement Analysis and Design

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Newly mixed asphalt pavements in the US currently contain approximately 20% of RAP. There are multiple reasons preventing this number from rising higher, but the most significant reason is the degradation of the asphalt binder through aging, and its effect on the recycled mixture. For RAP content to reach its full potential, recycling agents must be added to the mix design process to restore the vitality of the reclaimed asphalt binders. The objective of this Major Qualifying Project (MQP) was to analyze the environmental and economic effects of high RAP content HMA pavements. The scope of work consisted of a literature review, creation of an excel spreadsheet to facilitate mix design of recycled mixes, and evaluation of total cost, materials used, energy used, and emissions released during production of four different HMA mixes. For the purpose of this MQP, the four mix design trials that were selected are with 0% RAP, 25% RAP, 35% RAP and 50% RAP. Using the spreadsheet to calculate the batch weights, each mix design amounted to 6366.9 grams of total asphalt with a 4.5% binder content. The economic and environmental impacts were measured using the PaLATE software developed by Professor Arpad Horvath at the University of California, Berkeley. In both the case of constructing new pavement and replacing old pavement, there were significant reductions in both cost and environmental impact.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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