The Use of Glass to Optimize Bitumen Absorption of Hot Mix Asphalt Containing Recycled Construction Aggregates
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materials Article The Use of Glass to Optimize Bitumen Absorption of Hot Mix Asphalt Containing Recycled Construction Aggregates Farzaneh Tahmoorian 1,*, Bijan Samali 1, John Yeaman 2 and Russell Crabb 3 1 Centre for Infrastructure Engineering, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; [email protected] 2 Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia; [email protected] 3 Asphalt, Boral Ltd., North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 19 May 2018; Accepted: 13 June 2018; Published: 21 June 2018 Abstract: Asphalt mixtures containing recycled construction aggregates (RCA) have the problem of high bitumen absorption. This paper characterizes the effects of glass on the bitumen absorption and volumetric properties of asphalt mixtures containing 25% and 50% RCA through laboratory investigation. The materials used in the test program include C320 bitumen, RCA and recycled glass. Three glass contents of 0%, 10%, and 20% in terms of the total weight of fine aggregates are used in the mixture designs for preparing 100 mm diameter specimens containing 0%, 25% and 50% RCA, under 120 gyration cycles. Different types of tests including aggregate specification tests and volumetric analysis tests were conducted on individual aggregates and asphalt mixtures in accordance with Australian standards. The test results indicate that the glass waste can be a viable material for improving the problem of high bitumen absorption of asphalt mixtures containing RCA. Keywords: asphalt; glass; recycled construction aggregate; volumetric properties; binder film index 1. Introduction Waste materials are generated increasingly with the continuous growth in the economy and as consumption increases. The growing quantities of waste materials, lack of natural resources and shortage of landfill spaces represent the importance of finding innovative ways of reusing and recycling waste materials. Due to the large quantities of construction and demolition waste (CDW), recycling and utilization of Recycled Construction Aggregates (RCA) obtained from CDW in construction projects, including asphalt pavement construction, can be the most promising solution to this problem. Utilization of RCA in asphalt mixtures is a sustainable technology due to the important role and high portion of aggregates in asphalt mixtures. In addition, RCA has better characteristics for Flakiness Index and Particle Shape compared to basalt [1]. Since these two characteristics substantially influence the stability and strength of asphalt mixture [2], they can be considered as one of the strong points of RCA. However, the major drawback of RCA is its high water absorption compared to conventional aggregates which subsequently results in high bitumen absorption of asphalt mixtures containing RCA. By combining materials with low absorption, such as glass, the high bitumen absorption of asphalt mixtures containing RCA can be compensated. Using waste glass in RCA-contained asphalt mixtures reduces not only bitumen absorption but also the adverse environmental impacts associated with waste glass disposal due to the nonmetallic and inorganic nature of glass waste, which makes it impossible to be disposed in incinerators or sanitary landfills. In addition, the demand reduction for virgin aggregates is another advantage resulting in subsequent economic advantages. Materials 2018, 11, 1053; doi:10.3390/ma11071053 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials Materials 2018, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 25 associated with waste glass disposal due to the nonmetallic and inorganic nature of glass waste, which makes it impossible to be disposed in incinerators or sanitary landfills. In addition, the Materialsdemand2018 reduction, 11, 1053 for virgin aggregates is another advantage resulting in subsequent economic2 of 25 advantages. However, developing a suitable mix design containing RCA and glass is necessary before employingHowever, this developingtechnology ain suitableasphalt mixmixture design prod containinguction. The RCA purpose and glassof the ispresent necessary work before is to employingstudy the benefit this technology of glass addition in asphalt on the mixture bitume production.n absorption The of asphalt purpose mixtures of the presentcontaining work RCA is toin studyorder theto optimize benefit of the glass RCA-contained addition on theasphalt bitumen mix absorptiondesign. In that of asphalt sense, mixturesas discussed containing in the RCAfollowing in order sections, to optimize severalthe tests RCA-contained were conducted asphalt on individual mix design. aggregates In that sense,in order as to discussed obtain further in the followingknowledge sections, on the recycled several testsaggregate were conductedproperties as on well individual as to compare aggregates them in with order the to corresponding obtain further knowledgeproperties of on the the recycledvirgin aggregate aggregate and properties the stan asdards well asrequirements. to compare themBased with on thethe correspondingresults of the propertiesaggregate ofspecification the virgin aggregate tests, different and the tests standards were conducted requirements. on asphalt Based onmixtures the results containing of the aggregate various specificationcombinations tests, of natural different and tests recycled were conducted aggregates on asphalt in order mixtures to investigate containing their various performance combinations in ofasphalt natural mixture and recycled and to aggregatescharacterize in the order effects to investigate of glass on their the performancebitumen absorption in asphalt and mixture volumetric and toproperties characterize of asphalt the effects mixtures of glass containing on the bitumen different absorption percentages and volumetric of RCA. propertiesThe findings of asphaltof the mixturesexperimental containing work differentare given percentages in three ofmain RCA. sections The findings including of the experimentalthe mechanical work and are physical given in threeproperties main of sections coarse includingaggregates the (i.e., mechanical RCA and and basalt), physical the physical properties characteristics of coarse aggregates of fine aggregates (i.e., RCA and(i.e., basalt),glass and the basalt) physical andcharacteristics volumetric performance of fine aggregates of Hot Mix (i.e., Asphalt glass and (HMA) basalt) containing and volumetric RCA in performancecombination ofwith Hot glass Mix Asphaltand without (HMA) glass. containing Figure RCA1 illustrates in combination the flowchart with glass of discussion and without in glass. this Figureresearch1 illustrates work. the flowchart of discussion in this research work. Figure 1. The flowchart flowchart of discussion in this research work.work. 2. Background Today, manymany waste waste materials materials such such as as tyres, tyres, plastics, plastics, waste waste glass, glass, etc. etc. are are used used for for construction construction of differentof different layers layers of pavements of pavements including including the asphalt the asphalt surface surface layer [layer3–14]. [3–14]. Utilization Utilization of solid of wastes solid inwastes the asphalt in the layerasphalt not layer only reducesnot only the reduces adverse the impacts adverse of impacts waste disposal of waste but disposal also the but demand also the for naturaldemand materials for natural which materials will subsequently which will results subsequently in cost savings results and economicin cost savings advantages. and Moreover,economic usingadvantages. the recycled Moreover, materials using inthe the recycled asphalt materials surface layerin the can asphalt contribute surface to layer more can improvement contribute ofto engineeringmore improvement characteristics of engineering of the asphalt characteristics pavement of materials, the asphalt representing pavement a ma value-addedterials, representing application a forvalue-added solid wastes. application However, for the solid selection wastes. of wasteHowever, materials the selection used for roadof waste construction, materials particularly used for road the surfaceconstruction, course, particularly is of high importance the surface ascourse, the incorporation is of high importance of wastes shouldas the notincorporation affect the functionalof wastes andshould structural not affect aspects the functional of the pavements and structural [15–17 ].aspects of the pavements [15–17]. In addition,addition, due to the importanceimportance of thethe aggregatesaggregates inin asphaltasphalt concrete,concrete, the studiesstudies on thethe utilization ofof the the recycled recycled aggregates aggregates such assuch reclaimed as reclaimed asphalt pavementasphalt pavement (RAP), recycled (RAP), construction recycled aggregateconstruction (RCA), aggregate recycled (RCA), glass, recycled etc. have glass, increased etc. have worldwide increased over worldwide the past two over decades the past [18 –two20]. Amongdecades the[18–20]. recycled Among aggregates, the recycled the large aggregates, amount th ofe construction large amount and of demolitionconstruction waste and generationdemolition worldwidewaste generation justifies worldwide the idea of justifies using RCA the idea in new of using asphalt RCA mixtures. in new Referring asphalt mixtures. to available Referring literature to e.g., [21–28], RCA has been used in the base course and subbase course of pavements over the last