Low temperature grade determinations of asphalt mortar without extraction before and after one year storage duration

Abstract

Due to many reasons; including the reduction of new pavement construction, conservation of natural resources, preservation of the environment, reduction of landfill space, the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) as a component of asphalt mixture has been gaining increasing popularity in recent years around the world. The objective of the present research is conducting an investigation of storage duration effect on the low temperature characteristics of RAP binders without extraction. Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) was used as the primary apparatus to evaluate the low-temperature properties of asphalt mortars containing RAP fines. The experimental design included three RAP sources, three base binders and two RAP contents. The test results indicated that the minimum low temperatures of modified binders containing RAPs after one year were generally higher compared to those containing initials RAPs which meant the storage duration had an effect on the aging process of RAP binders. In addition, the modified binders with burned RAPs had lower performance minimum temperature than those with unburned RAPs. The minimum low temperatures of the binders containing RAP without extraction were determined by various RAPs and base binder types.