Performance evaluation and sustainability assessment of precast concrete paver blocks containing coarse and fine RAP fractions: A comprehensive comparative study

Abstract

Concrete paver blocks have recently developed as the most attractive and economically viable option for extensively recycling wastes. This deescalates the environmental concerns related to waste disposal, encourages conservation of natural resources, and contributes to a sustainable production process. In the present study, laboratory performance of concrete paver blocks using coarse and fine fractions of non-beneficiated reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) materials, derived as a waste residue from demolished asphalt pavement, was comprehensively and comparatively investigated. A two-factor analysis of variance and multiple comparisons test was performed to investigate the influence of RAP proportion and moist curing age. The laboratory findings revealed that the produced concrete blocks containing RAP have a great potential to be used for medium, heavy, and very-heavy traffic applications. The dosage of RAP as a natural aggregate replacement as well as the durability of RAP concrete can be increased using a staged mixing approach and a time-controlled dual-source compaction technique, which involves synchronized impact pressure and vibratory compaction energy. Moreover, assessing economic and environmental benefits highlighted the potentially sustainable aspects of recycling RAP fractions into precast concrete paver blocks.