Evaluation of pure and mixed modes (I/III) fracture toughness of Portland cement concrete mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement

Abstract

The usage of waste materials in industrial application is one of the main issues around the world. The reclaimed asphalt pavement is one of the waste materials that due to environmental and economical benefits is usually used in road construction. This research study investigates the fracture toughness of concrete mixtures containing different percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement (i.e. 0, 15, 30 and 45%). For this, a large number of cracked disc shape specimens containing different percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement were loaded in pure (I and III) and mixed (I/III) modes at temperatures of −25 °C, 0 °C and +25 °C. The results of this research indicate that the reclaimed asphalt pavement decreases the fracture toughness of the concrete mixture in pure and mixed modes (I/III). Meanwhile, the results show that by decreasing the temperature, the fracture toughness of the concrete mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement increases.