Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement/Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles (RAP/RAS) Sustainable Materials

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Scope of this study is to quantify the long-term performance impacts of binder grades and reclaimed asphalt pavement/reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAP/RAS) levels to advance the responsible use of RAP/RAS. The responsible usage of RAP/RAS remains a critical research issue for the asphalt pavement community. The understanding of long term aging of these materials remains limited and a controlled study at the Pavement Testing Facility (PTF) was constructed, loaded, and monitored for several years with a wide range of RAP/RAS combinations across two difference binder grades and warm-mix additives. Sections have also been characterized as having re-refined engine oil bottoms in the binder. Currently, State DOTs require that contractors characterize their reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) pile by solvent extracting the binder from the RAP or RAS and determine a simple absolute viscosity value or a PG grade. This value is then used to assess the consistency of the RAP pile. The use of solvents needed to extract binder from RAP are now being restricted due to environmental and health concerns. A second objective is to develop an alternative to solvent extractions for characterization RAP that eliminates the use of solvents and reduces the testing time to under an hour.