Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
No Thumbnail Available
Publication

Development of a recycled polymer modified binder for use in stone mastic asphalt

2008-08, Casey, Donnchadh, McNally, Ciaran, Gibney, Amanda, Gilchrist, M. D.

The number of commercial vehicles using Irish roads has increased considerably in recent years, leading to higher demands being placed on pavement materials and increased use of polymer modified bitumens. This has also coincided with significant changes in Governmental policy which has produced large increases in Irish recycling rates. Improved recycling levels are set to provide Ireland with a new challenge: to find potential uses for the large quantities of recycled polymer that are becoming available. Towards this end, the potential of developing a recycled polymer modified binder was investigated. The polymers most commonly recycled in Ireland were identified and sourced from industry. Fundamental bitumen tests were conducted to assess the effect of the recycled polymer and a mixing methodology developed. It was found that the addition of 4% recycled HDPE into a pen grade binder produced the most promising results, and the mixing process was then optimised with respect to mixing parameters and binder additives. A developmental recycled binder was produced and compared in performance tests to binders currently used in road construction practice. Results obtained from wheel track and fatigue tests show that although the binder does not deliver equivalent performance levels to a proprietary polymer modified binder, it does out-perform traditional binders used in stone mastic asphalt. Recommendations are offered on the further development of the recycled polymer modified binder to achieve the standards currently required.

No Thumbnail Available
Publication

The influence of recycled asphalt pavement on 20mm binder course mix performance

2006-10, Tabakovic, Amir, Gibney, Amanda, Gilchrist, M. D., McNally, Ciaran

This paper presents the results of ongoing research on the mechanical performance of a 20mm binder course asphalt pavement mix incorporating recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). A series of binder course mixes were designed containing varying percentages of RAP. A mix made only from virgin material was selected as the control mix for the investigation. The effect of introducing RAP into the binder course mix was evaluated through a series of laboratory tests including the Marshall Test, Indirect Tensile Stiffness Modulus Test, Indirect Tensile Fatigue Test and Water Sensitivity Test. A Circular Wheel Track (CWT) was developed in order to study the dynamic effects of a rolling wheel travelling over an asphalt pavement. The CWT was commissioned within a temperature controlled room along with a customised Data Acquisition (DAQ) system. The system involves the testing of rectangular slabs and allows for the investigation of the dynamic tensile strain. The dynamic tensile strain is digitally recorded and the loading effect assessed. The laboratory tests have shown that the introduction of RAP to the binder course mix resulted in an improvement in all mechanical properties. This was also observed in the dynamic tensile strain test.

No Thumbnail Available
Publication

Fatigue resistance of bituminous layers incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement

2006-02, Tabakovic, Amir, Gibney, Amanda, Gilchrist, M. D., McNally, Ciaran

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the fatigue performance of a 20mm Binder Course Asphalt Pavement Mix incorporating Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP). For the study, a series of binder course mixes were designed containing varying percentages of RAP. A mix made only from virgin material, was selected as the control mix for the investigation. A Circular Wheel Tracker (CWT) was developed in order to simulate the dynamic loading conditions of a rolling wheel and to study the initiation and growth of fatigue cracks in an asphalt pavement mix. The CWT was commissioned within a temperature-controlled room with a customised data acquisition system. The test specimens were subjected to dynamic loading in the CWT and the dynamic strain on the underside of the slab was monitored throughout the test. A digital image processing technique was also used to measure the crack area and crack length at the underside of the test specimen. Parallel to this a separate testing programme was undertaken, whereby the fatigue resistance of bituminous mixtures incorporating same RAP contents was assessed using the indirect tensile fatigue test as described in BS DD ABF:1997. The results from these parallel strands are compared, and the performance of the various mixes incorporating RAP is assessed.