Performance Evaluation of Stress-Absorbing Layer Mixtures Incorporating High-Content Oil-Rich RAP Fine Aggregate

Yaoting Zhu, Xiangyang Fan (), Bin Liu, Yuchao Gao (), Xin Yu and Wei Tang
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Yaoting Zhu: Jiangxi Communications Investment Maintenance Technology Group Co., Ltd., Nanchang 330299, China
Xiangyang Fan: Jiangxi Communications Investment Maintenance Technology Group Co., Ltd., Nanchang 330299, China
Bin Liu: Jiangxi Communications Investment Maintenance Technology Group Co., Ltd., Nanchang 330299, China
Yuchao Gao: School of Transportation, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410114, China
Xin Yu: School of Transportation, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410114, China
Wei Tang: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-18

Abstract: The utilization of oil-rich reclaimed asphalt pavement fine aggregate (O-RAP), characterized by its high asphalt content, which has inherent compatibility with the high asphalt demand of stress-absorbing layer (SAL) mixtures, enables significant recycling rates, thereby promoting resource efficiency and a promising pathway for sustainable infrastructure development. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the rheological properties of recycled asphalt binder through dynamic shear rheometer and bending beam rheometer tests. Furthermore, the pavement performance of SAL mixtures was systematically assessed via fatigue testing, moisture susceptibility evaluation, rutting resistance analysis, and overlay testing. The results indicate that increasing the O-RAP content enhances the complex shear modulus while reducing the phase angle, suggesting improved stiffness but reduced flexibility of the binder. In SAL mixtures, higher O-RAP content was associated with decreased fatigue life, moisture stability, and low-temperature cracking resistance, yet it contributed to improved resistance to reflective cracking and high-temperature rutting. Pearson correlation analysis further revealed that the fatigue life of the binder exhibits a strong positive correlation with creep rate and significant negative correlations with creep stiffness modulus, high-temperature stability, and reflective cracking resistance. These findings underscore the viability of high-content O-RAP incorporation in SAL mixtures as a technically sound and environmentally sustainable strategy for low-carbon pavement construction, offering significant reductions in virgin material consumption and associated carbon emissions.

Keywords: road engineering; oil-rich RAP fine aggregate; stress-absorbing layer mixtures; road performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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