Comparative analysis of cold central-plant recycled and unbound base course bearing capacity

Abstract

Distresses in the pavement structure gradually develop, at a rate that is directly related to bearing capacity. Any reduction in bearing capacity leads to faster pavement deterioration. To retain the same bearing capacity of whole pavement structure during the year is an issue, the main reason being water accumulation in subgrade and base courses, especially in spring as ice lenses melt. This paper focuses on the bearing capacity of pavement structures with bound and unbound base courses in different seasons. Both pavements were affected by the same climatic conditions. Bound base courses were constructed of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) blended with virgin aggregate and treated with 3.1% of foamed bitumen and 2.3% of cement. Cold recycled asphalt mixture was produced in a central plant. Bearing capacity of the whole pavement structure was evaluated by surface modulus, which was calculated on the basis of falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data. A comparative analysis of cold central plant recycled (CCPR) and unbound base course was performed considering pavement structure, side of the road and season.