Hot-mix recycling of asphalt concrete airfield pavements

The hot-mix recycling of existing airfield pavements is cost effective and can produce asphalt concrete mixtures with material properties equivalent to those of new materials for airfield pavements. Recycled pavement mixes from four different airfields were investigated for performance and current material properties compared to the original or “as constructed” properties. Pavement samples were obtained from each recycled pavement. Properties such as field density, maximum theoretical density, asphalt content, and aggregate gradation were obtained. The recovered asphalt cement was evaluated for penetration, viscosity, and specific gravity. The aggregate properties of specific gravity, absorption, percentage of crushed and flat and elongated particles were also determined. The mixtures were recompacted to determine a laboratory density and void properties. A pavement condition survey was performed at each location to determine its condition and amount and types of distress experienced by the pavement.