Crumb Rubber (CR) and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)-Modified Asphalt Pavement Assessment: A Mechanical, Environmental, and Life Cycle Cost Analysis Study

Maram Saudy (), Minas Guirguis, Ayman Saeed (), Abdallah Elshenawy, Farida Elkaramany, Nadeen Dawoud, Mohamed Darwish and Mohamed AbouZeid
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Maram Saudy: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Minas Guirguis: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Ayman Saeed: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Abdallah Elshenawy: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Farida Elkaramany: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Nadeen Dawoud: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Mohamed Darwish: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Mohamed AbouZeid: Department of Construction Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835, Egypt

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-22

Abstract: Due to the growing consumption of plastic and rubber products, effective waste management solutions are crucial. This study evaluates the use of crumb rubber (CR), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and their combination (CR+LDPE), as asphalt binder modifiers for improving pavement performance and sustainability. The analyses covered two critical pavement layers: the wearing surface (WS) and the treated base (TB). The methodology included (1) Binder Development and Testing; (2) Superpave Mix Design; (3) mechanical testing, including Indirect Tensile Strength Testing and Semi-Circular Bending Testing; (4) life cycle cost analysis; and (5) carbon footprint analysis. The results revealed that CR+LDPE significantly enhanced the fatigue resistance of the TB mixes, with a fracture energy increase of 47%, and increased the flexibility index by 53% in the WS. CR increased the flexibility index by about 146% in the TB layer, while LDPE increased the fracture energy by 21% in the WS layer. The life cycle cost analysis demonstrated that using LDPE, CR, and CR+LDPE reduced the life cycle costs by about 16% in the WS layer. Meanwhile, the life cycle carbon footprint analysis showed that using LDPE and CR+LDPE reduced the carbon footprint by about 87% and 81% for the TB and WS layers, respectively. The study findings highlight the mechanical, economic, and environmental benefits of incorporating wastes into asphalt pavements.

Keywords: sustainable pavements; crumb rubber; low-density polyethylene; cost analysis; carbon footprint (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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