Performance evaluation of hot recycled mixtures containing SBS modified binder

Over the last decades, Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) has become one of the most recycled materials. Currently, RAP is mainly used for unbound layers, without exploiting the replacement of a portion of the more expensive virgin binder. Moreover, the increasing quantity of RAP which includes aged modified binders complicates material analysis. This paper presents a laboratory mechanical investigation on hot recycled mixtures prepared with RAP including aged Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) modified binder. A reference mixture with 25% RAP and four mixtures with 40% RAP were investigated. Two total binder contents and two virgin SBS modified binders were used to produce mixtures with 40% RAP, which were designed using the Bailey method. Compactibility, stiffness properties, cracking and rutting resistance were evaluated on laboratory compacted specimens. Results suggest that amounts of RAP up to 40% are suitable for the production of new bituminous materials, when a specific and detailed mix design is performed.