Field Performance and Structural Characterization of Full-Scale Cold Central Plant Recycled Pavements

Cold central plant recycling (CCPR) has traditionally been a little-used technique in reclaiming asphalt pavements (RAP), especially on higher-volume roadways. In 2012, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) sponsored three test sections at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Pavement Test Track to evaluate CCPR under accelerated traffic conditions and to complement a field project using CCPR on I-81 in Virginia. The three Test Track sections evaluated the effect of asphalt concrete (AC) thickness over the CCPR in addition to using a cement-stabilized base layer versus an unbound granular base beneath the CCPR. The objective of this investigation was to characterize the field performance and in situ structural characteristics of the CCPR sections at the Test Track. To date, after 7.5 million equivalent single axle loads (ESALs), all three sections are exhibiting excellent performance with no cracking, relatively little rutting (≤0.25 in.) and very little change in smoothness over time. This study found that 1) the backcalculated AC/CCPR moduli resemble conventional AC materials while the stabilized base section appears to be curing over time, 2) the measured tensile strain at the bottom of the CCPR layer clearly shows the structural benefit of including an additional two inches of AC or the use of a stabilized base layer, and 3) the structural benefits of an additional two inches of AC are less pronounced when examining the base and subgrade pressure levels.

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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFD80 Strength and Deformation Characteristics of Pavement Sections.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Timm, David H
  • Sánchez, Miguel Díaz
  • Diefenderfer, Brian K
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Equivalent single axle loads; Granular bases; Pavement performance; Reclaimed asphalt pavements; Test sections; Thickness
• Identifier Terms: National Center for Asphalt Technology; Virginia Department of Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cement stabilized base; Cold central-plant recycling
• Geographic Terms: Virginia
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01550070
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-0781
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 16 2015 8:28AM