DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES AND PERFORMANCE FOR ASPHALT CONCRETE CONTAINING RECYCLED RUBBER

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementation of the crumb rubber technology in Kentucky. The impetus for this study was provided by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). This study included an overview of existing literature on the subject from an implementation point of view for Kentucky's conditions. Upon completion of this phase of the study, guidelines were developed by the KTC research team and were submitted to the Transportation Cabinet for field implementation of the crumb rubber modifier (CRM) technology. From the ease of the implementation point of view, the Cabinet opted to build a field trial section using the "wet process" which utilized a fine ground rubber (80 mesh) material. The rationale for this decision was based upon the fact that the fine ground CRM mix closely resembles the polymer modified HMA, and that both the Cabinet and Kentucky contractors have an extensive amount of experience with polymer modified asphalt. In July 1993, a field trial project was constructed on a portion of the US 421, Franklin County, Kentucky. The project involved milling of nominally one inch (25.40 mm) of the wearing surface followed up by a nominally one inch overlay. The four-lane trial project (two lanes in each direction) was divided into two approximately half-mile (0.804 km) sections. This allowed for a comparison of performance between the CRM hot mix asphalt (HMA) and the conventional HMA. The trial implementation of the CRM technology in Kentucky has proved to be a success. The 177-micron (80-mesh) fine ground rubber at 7.5% by weight of asphalt cement provided a material similar to polymer modified asphalt. Construction of the field project was possible with existing specifications and practices in Kentucky. The nonintrusive nature of the fine ground technology was most desirable from the ease of implementation point of view.

• Record URL:
  • http://uknowledge.uky.edu/ktc_researchreports/432
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

  200 Mero Street
  Frankfort, KY  United States  40622

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center
  College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281
• Authors:
  • Hancher, D E
  • Mahboub, K C
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 115 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Crumb rubber; Flexible pavements; Hot mix asphalt; Paving materials; Polymer asphalt; Recycled materials; Road materials; Rubber compounds
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00739848
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: KTC-94-27, Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: KYHPR-93-150
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 9 1997 12:00AM