Behavioral Analysis of Rigid Pavements Utilizing Recycled Base Layers

Sustainable pavement design requires a balanced consideration of economic, environmental, and social impacts. In line with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines for sustainable roadway infrastructure, incorporating recycled materials such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), recycled pavement material (RPM), recycled asphalt shingles (RASs), and warm-mix asphalt (WMA) has been shown to reduce natural resource depletion while promoting circular construction practices. This study investigates the structural performance of Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements constructed on RAP and RPM base layers. A series of design scenarios was modeled using site-specific laboratory and field data—particularly subgrade soil properties and climatic conditions—from El Paso and San Antonio, Texas. The analysis incorporates unsaturated soil parameters and follows the performance thresholds set by the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). Findings indicate that concrete mixture design, pavement structure, and local weather conditions are the primary drivers of distress in jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCPs). However, subsoil characteristics have a significant impact on joint faulting in JPCP and punchout occurrences in continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCPs), especially in thinner sections. Notably, the use of up to 50% recycled material in the base layer had minimal adverse effects on pavement performance, underscoring its viability as a sustainable design strategy for rigid pavements.