Life Cycle Costs Analysis of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Under Future Climate

Yaning Qiao, Eshan Dave, Tony Parry, Omar Valle, Lingyun Mi, Guodong Ni, Zhenmin Yuan and Yuefeng Zhu
Additional contact information
Yaning Qiao: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Eshan Dave: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
Tony Parry: Nottingham Transportation Engineering Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Omar Valle: Pavement Department, Cemex, Managua 13061, Nicaragua
Lingyun Mi: School of Management, China University of Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Guodong Ni: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Zhenmin Yuan: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Yuefeng Zhu: School of Traffic and Transportation, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050043, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) has received wide application in asphalt pavement construction and maintenance and it has shown cost-effectiveness over virgin hot mix asphalt (HMA). HMA with a high content of reclaimed asphalt (RA) (e.g., 40%) is sometimes used in practice, however, it may have significant adverse effects on the life cycle performance and related costs. In particular, challenges may arise as the life cycle performance of RAP is also affected by local climatic conditions. Thus, it is important to investigate whether it is still economic to use RAP under future local climate, with consideration of life cycle performance. A case study was conducted for various road structures on Interstate 95 (I-95) in New Hampshire (NH), USA for the investigation. The case study utilized dynamic modulus testing results for local virgin HMA and HMA with 40% RA (as major material alternatives) to predict life cycle performance of the selected pavement structures, considering downscaled future climates. Then, a life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was considered to estimate and compare the life cycle cash flow of the investigated road structures. Responsive maintenance (overlay) and effectiveness were also considered in this study. It was found that using 40% RA in HMA can reduce agency costs by up to approximately 18% under the 2020–2040 predicted climate and NH should consider this practice under predicted future climate to reduce agency costs.

Keywords: reclaimed asphalt pavement; recycling; life cycle cost; climate downscaling; performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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