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Environmental and economic analyses of recycled asphalt concrete mixtures based on material production and potential performance

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  • Yang, Rebekah
  • Kang, Seunggu
  • Ozer, Hasan
  • Al-Qadi, Imad L.

Abstract

As roadway construction is a material and energy intensive activity with potential impacts on the environment, the pavement industry has been seeking for more sustainable construction practices in the past decades. The use of recycled materials such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingle (RAS) is widely accepted as among the most commonly used sustainable strategies for asphalt concrete (AC) pavement due to its ability to partially substitute virgin asphalt binder and aggregate in AC mixtures. This study evaluated the environmental and economic benefits and trade-offs of including recycled materials in pavements using a life-cycle approach. Eleven AC mix designs from Illinois with various asphalt binder replacement (ABR) rates were evaluated in terms of environmental and economic impacts using life-cycle assessment (LCA) and an itemized cost analysis. The LCA was conducted in accordance to International Standard Organization ISO 14044:2006 guidelines. The life-cycle impacts of producing the AC mixtures were calculated in terms of energy, global warming potential, and cost. A general trend of reduction in these three sustainability metrics was observed for mix production with increasing ABR. However, without proper modification and engineering of mix designs (e.g. addition of a softer grade virgin asphalt binder), AC mixtures with high ABR can experience reduced fatigue life. Thus, the effect of pavement performance on the environmental impacts of using mixtures with various ABR was also considered, assuming that these mixtures are used in a 4-in. (102-mm) overlay over a four-lane-mile (1.6km) roadway. A breakeven concept was used to find the decreased service life at which the energy savings from using recycled asphaltic materials in the overlay equal the additional energy consumption incurred from a potential reduced performance in the pavement use phase. The breakeven point was found to be very sensitive to the traffic level of the overlay, with the breakeven service life decreasing rapidly with increased traffic.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Rebekah & Kang, Seunggu & Ozer, Hasan & Al-Qadi, Imad L., 2015. "Environmental and economic analyses of recycled asphalt concrete mixtures based on material production and potential performance," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA), pages 141-151.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:104:y:2015:i:pa:p:141-151
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.08.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Santero, Nicholas J. & Masanet, Eric & Horvath, Arpad, 2011. "Life-cycle assessment of pavements Part II: Filling the research gaps," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(9), pages 810-818.
    2. Aurangzeb, Qazi & Al-Qadi, Imad L. & Ozer, Hasan & Yang, Rebekah, 2014. "Hybrid life cycle assessment for asphalt mixtures with high RAP content," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 77-86.
    3. Vidal, Rosario & Moliner, Enrique & Martínez, Germán & Rubio, M. Carmen, 2013. "Life cycle assessment of hot mix asphalt and zeolite-based warm mix asphalt with reclaimed asphalt pavement," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 101-114.
    4. Harvey, J. & Kendall, A. & Lee, I.-S & Santero, N. & Van Dam, T. & Wang, T., 2010. "Pavement Life Cycle Assessment Workshop: Discussion Summary and Guidelines," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt3jc3d3xs, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Natalia Cavero Wintruff & José Leomar Fernandes, 2023. "A Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Pavements in Brazil: Evaluating Environmental Impacts and Pavement Performance Integrating the International Roughness Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Taísa Medina & João Luiz Calmon & Darli Vieira & Alencar Bravo & Thalya Vieira, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment of Road Pavements That Incorporate Waste Reuse: A Systematic Review and Guidelines Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Toniolo, Sara & Mazzi, Anna & Pieretto, Chiara & Scipioni, Antonio, 2017. "Allocation strategies in comparative life cycle assessment for recycling: Considerations from case studies," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 117(PB), pages 249-261.
    5. Bryce, James & Brodie, Stefanie & Parry, Tony & Lo Presti, Davide, 2017. "A systematic assessment of road pavement sustainability through a review of rating tools," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 108-118.
    6. Huang, T.Y. & Chiueh, P.T. & Lo, S.L., 2017. "Life-cycle environmental and cost impacts of reusing fly ash," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 255-260.
    7. Gislaine Luvizão & Glicério Trichês, 2023. "Case Study on Life Cycle Assessment Applied to Road Restoration Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-26, April.

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