Laboratory Comparison of Crushed Aggregate and Recycled Pavement Material With and Without High Carbon Fly Ash

Abstract

In-place recycling of asphalt pavement materials is a sustainable rehabilitation method. Existing hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layer is pulverized and blended with some or the entire base course and possibly some subgrade to form a broadly graded material referred to as recycled pavement material (RPM). The RPM is then compacted as the new base course and overlaid by a new layer of HMA. In some occasions, additives are added to increase the strength of RPM base course, such as cement, emulsion, fly ash. It is plausible to utilize high calcium high carbon fly ash, as the high level of carbon prevents fly ash from being used in concrete. A series of laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of these materials, including crushed aggregate, untreated RPM, and treated RPM with high carbon fly ash. The tests included compaction, California Bearing Ratio, resilient modulus, and unconfined compressive strength for treated RPM. The engineering properties of these materials were compared.