An Evaluation of Moisture-Induced Structural Damage of Pavements with Cold Recycled Layers

In most asphalt pavements, the base layer functions as the major constituent of the total structure. The increase in the degree of saturation of the base layers is a primary cause of distress in asphalt pavements. The moisture entering through the pavement surface has to be drained out through the subsurface layers quickly and effectively. However, currently the drainage characteristics of recycled base layers are neither well documented nor considered in the selection of materials or structural design of the recycled base and the surface layer, and it is suspected that the cold recycled layers are significantly susceptible to moisture damage. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of various drainage conditions on the structural performance of pavements with recycled layers when subjected to rainfall and flooding. The work presented here consists of modeling unsaturated water flow through pavements in two locations, Maine and Texas, the determination of key factors affecting the overall structural behavior of a pavement, and determination of permeability of a recycled base course. The conclusions are that there is a combined impact of drainage structure, permeability and thickness of the recycled base and the surface layer on the drainage capacity, pavements with slow drainage can suffer a significant amount of damage, a thick surface layer should be adopted for currently used recycled base courses, or the permeability of recycled base courses should be increased significantly. Research should be conducted on the optimization of drainage systems for pavements with recycled layers.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFS60 Standing Committee on Subsurface Drainage. Alternate title: An Evaluation of Moisture Induced Structural Damage of Pavements with Cold Recycled Layers.
• Authors:
  • Nivedya, M K
  • Mallick, Rajib B
  • Tirado, Cesar
  • Saremi, Setare Ghahri
  • Nazarian, Soheil
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Base course (Pavements); Cold in-place recycling; Drainage; Floods; Moisture damage; Permeability; Rainfall
• Uncontrolled Terms: Moisture susceptibility
• Geographic Terms: Maine; Texas
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01661896
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-05271
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 6 2018 4:22PM