Fatigue of Cold Recycled Cement-Treated Pavement Layers: Experimental and Modeling Study

William Fedrigo (), Lucas Fraporti Heller, Lélio Antônio Teixeira Brito and Washington Peres Núñez
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William Fedrigo: Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering: Civil Construction and Infrastructure, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ave. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 706, Porto Alegre 90035-190, Brazil
Lucas Fraporti Heller: Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering: Civil Construction and Infrastructure, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ave. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 706, Porto Alegre 90035-190, Brazil
Lélio Antônio Teixeira Brito: Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering: Civil Construction and Infrastructure, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ave. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 706, Porto Alegre 90035-190, Brazil
Washington Peres Núñez: Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering: Civil Construction and Infrastructure, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ave. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 706, Porto Alegre 90035-190, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: Fatigue is the main design criterion for cold recycled cement-treated mixtures (CRCTMs). However, the literature shows that the fatigue behavior of such mixtures is still not well known. For example, the effect of increasing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) contents is yet a topic of discussion. This experimental and modeling study helps fill knowledge gaps on CRCTM fatigue behavior using long-term curing fatigue tests and three design methods currently being used in different countries. The objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize the mechanical and fatigue behavior of mixtures of RAP, aggregates and cement; (2) to evaluate the fatigue life of pavements with base and subbase layers of such mixtures using the novel Brazilian design method (MeDiNa); and (3) to compare the results with those obtained using the South African Pavement Engineering Manual (SAPEM) transfer functions and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED) software. The mixtures were tested in the laboratory using flexural static and cyclic tests, and the required parameters to use the methods were obtained. Experimental results and modeling demonstrated a superior fatigue behavior of recycled layers with higher RAP contents. On the other side, layers with lower RAP contents abruptly lost stiffness in short periods, making thicker structures necessary. Therefore, using high RAP contents is not only a sustainable practice, but also a technical benefit. The equivalent single axle loads obtained using the SAPEM were higher than those obtained using MeDiNa, while the PMED ones were higher than both previous methods. Despite the inherent differences, this suggests that MeDiNa is more conservative. It also highlights the importance of calibration based on long-term pavement performance data.

Keywords: pavement recycling; reclaimed asphalt pavement; Portland cement; fatigue life; pavement design; flexural behavior; cyclic loading (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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