Influence of Crumb Rubber on the Indirect Tensile Strength and Stiffness Modulus of Hot Bituminous Mixes

In recent years, the use of rubber from scrap tires to modify the mechanical properties of bituminous mixes has become increasingly important in road engineering. There is currently much research devoted to the influence of this waste material on mix performance. This paper presents a study of the incorporation of crumb rubber (by the dry process and the wet process) and its effect on the bearing capacity and cohesion of bituminous mixes. The results obtained show that crumb rubber increased the stiffness and stability of mixes although it slightly reduced their indirect tensile strength. Apart from the evident environmental benefits, adding this waste to asphalt mixes improves the long-term performance of road surfaces because it reduces the effect of traffic loads on the pavement. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000436. (C) 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.