Mitigation of permanent deformation in base layer containing recycled asphalt aggregates

The use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) aggregates as replacement for new materials in the pavement base weakens the layer in regards to the resistance to permanent deformation under repeated loading. A mechanistic based design procedure is proposed to ensure that base layers containing RAP particles have a similar rutting behaviour to base layers made of virgin aggregates. The design procedure allows calculating an asphalt concrete thickness increase that is based on permanent deformation behaviour of base materials. The calculation approach is based on multistage triaxial permanent deformation tests performed on granular material samples with varied RAP content. The tests allowed proposing an equation that relates permanent strain rate, RAP content, and deviatoric stress, which is the basis of the design procedure. Design charts are proposed to select adequate thickness increase for the asphalt concrete layer according to the expected RAP content in the base layer and asphalt concrete modulus.