Abstract:
Recycling, RAP material, rejuvenator, estimation, prediction,
environment.
Abstract: The study presented in this thesis has been carried out within a
collaboration between Politehnica University Timisoara/Faculty of Civil
Engineering/Department of Overland Communication Ways, Foundations and
Cadastral Survey from Romania and Université de Lyon/École Nationale des
Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE), laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des
Systèmes (LTDS) from France. The objectives are, i) the characterization of the
thermomechanical performances of binder blends and bituminous mixtures
produced with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and rejuvenator (Rej) and, ii)
the investigation of the potential environmental impact related to the production
of a mixture containing different amounts of RAP material and Rejuvenator.
Therefore, comprehensive experimental investigations were performed
on binders and mixtures. All tests on binders and mixtures were performed in
the Road Laboratory from Politehnica University Timisoara, together with the
environmental impact assessment. On the other hand, the analyses, estimations
and predictions of most parameters/characteristics of binders and mixtures were
performed at ENTPE.
The study on binders focused on the investigation of the influence of a
RAP extracted binder and the rejuvenator on the properties of different binder
blends produced by mixing one type of fresh binder, a straight run 50/70 pen.
grade binder, a RAP-extracted binder and a rejuvenator of vegetal origin. The
experimental plan includes a total of 17 binders. A new method is proposed to
estimate the conventional properties, the LVE properties, the steady shear
viscosity and critical temperatures. Stronger correspondence, proved by the
statistical analysis, was found between the estimated values of all abovementioned
parameters obtained with the proposed method compared to the
classical method, and experimental values.
The study on mixtures focused on the investigation of the effects of the
RAP material and the rejuvenator on the thermo-mechanical properties of 13
bituminous mixtures produced with different amounts of RAP material and with
or without a mix of vegetal origin used as a rejuvenator. One conventional Hot
Mix Asphalt was used as a reference. All materials used in this study are specific
for Romania. SHStS transformation was applied. A satisfactory prediction was
obtained even by using the limited DSR measurements on binders.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) proved that the addition of
RAP material leads to a net decrease of the energy use and environmental
impact. On the other side, when the rejuvenator is used in this process, it can
affect the energy balance and reduce the difference in environmental impact.
