The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of full-depth reclamation (FDR) on the strength and durability of aggregate base layers in a coordinated approach involving both field and laboratory testing. Field comparisons between the pre-reclamation neat base and post-reclamation blended base were supplemented with laboratory experiments conducted to determine the effects of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content, compaction effort, and heating on the strength and durability of roadways reconstructed using FDR with a portable asphalt recycling machine (PARM). Also, the effect of reclamation on the spatial uniformity of the pavement structures was explored by comparing variability in the pre- and post-reclamation material properties. Test sites in Orem, Utah; San Marcos, Texas; and South Jordan, Utah, were selected for this research. The results of field testing indicate that the FDR process significantly increased the stiffness and/or strength of the base material at two of the test locations and did not significantly change the third base material. An evaluation of spatial variability indicated that the FDR process produced equivalent or lower spatial variability with respect to both base modulus and California bearing ratio (CBR) values at one site, while the other two sites exhibited equivalent or higher spatial variability after FDR. The results of laboratory testing for all three locations indicate that specimens compacted using the modified Proctor method exhibit significantly higher CBR values and dry densities than specimens compacted using the standard Proctor method. Also, the CBR values for specimens tested in the dry condition were significantly higher than those obtained from specimens tested at optimum moisture content. These results demonstrate the value of achieving a high level of compaction during construction and preventing water ingress into the pavement over time. The blended material exhibited a significantly lower CBR value than that of the neat material at only one location; the addition of RAP to materials at the other locations did not significantly change the CBR values of those materials. In the tube suction test (TST), most of the specimens were classified as marginally or highly moisture-susceptible, and the effect of RAP on the dielectric value in the TST was of no practical importance. The use of PARMs in the FDR process is an acceptable, economical, and environmentally friendly approach to reconstruction of flexible pavements. To ensure satisfactory performance of FDR projects, engineers and managers should carefully follow recommended guidelines for project selection, pavement testing, material characterization, design, construction, and quality assurance testing.

The objective of this research was to analyze the strength and deformation characteristics of a cement-treated base (CTB) constructed using full-depth reclamation, microcracked, and then surfaced with a single chip seal. In this field study, strength characteristics of the CTB layer were determined at the time of construction, and then both strength and deformation characteristics were evaluated after 9 months of low-volume, heavy truck traffic. After 9 months, observed distresses included transverse cracking, rutting, and chip seal joint failure. The loss of the chip seal was caused by poor chip seal construction practices and not a deficiency in the CTB layer. The importance of the role of the chip seal as a wearing course was made evident by these failures since the exposed CTB often exhibited material loss. The average ride qualities in and out of the wheel path were in the fair ride category; the roughness was not likely caused by trafficking but probably resulted from construction or climatic factors. Structural testing performed after 9 months of service indicated that the CTB stiffness and modulus were greater than the values measured after microcracking at the time of construction, indicating continued strength gain. However, trafficking over the 9-month period had caused significantly lower stiffnesses measured in the wheel paths than between the wheel paths. The average unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the cores tested at 9 months was not significantly different than the average UCS of the field-compacted specimens tested at 6 weeks. Based on the observed performance of the CTB and chip seal evaluated in this research, recommendations for improved CTB performance include the use of a thicker and/or stiffer CTB layer, ensuring a smooth CTB surface during construction, and application of a double chip seal or equivalent.

The objective of this research was to investigate emulsion-treated base (ETB) frost susceptibility in terms of both freeze-thaw cycling and frost heave. The research performed in this study involved laboratory testing of ETB materials sampled from both the Redwood Road and 7800 South reconstruction projects in northern Utah. The effects of freeze-thaw cycling were evaluated by comparing the stiffness and strength of tested specimens to the same properties of control specimens not subjected to freeze-thaw cycling. Frost heave testing enabled evaluation of the effects of emulsion content and degree of curing on the volumetric stability of ETB materials during sustained freezing. Since permeability affects the frost susceptibility of a material, samples were also prepared to specifically evaluate the effect of curing condition on the permeability of the two base materials when treated with emulsion. The results of freeze-thaw testing showed that both the Redwood Road and 7800 South specimens experienced decreases in modulus as a result of freeze-thaw damage. The results also showed that the Redwood Road specimens experienced substantial decreases in strength as a result of freeze-thaw damage. The specimens from 7800 South did not exhibit such strength loss; since those specimens initially had much lower modulus and unconfined compressive strength values than the Redwood Road specimens, they were less susceptible to stiffness and strength loss during the freeze-thaw test. Results for the frost heave tests showed that the untreated base materials were not susceptible to frost heave and that the addition of emulsion, with or without curing, did not change the frost heave behavior in a practically important way. While susceptibility to frost heave is not expected to be a problem with these base materials, the laboratory results revealed a significant increase in the permeability of the ETB specimens after curing, which could facilitate greater freeze-thaw damage. In consideration of these research results, engineers should ensure proper material sampling and laboratory testing to assess the efficacy of emulsion treatment for a given project. ETB to be constructed in cold regions should be subjected to freeze-thaw testing during the design phase, and designers should be aware that curing of the ETB may dramatically increase permeability and therefore increase frost susceptibility.

Full-depth reclamation (FDR) is an increasingly common technique that is used to rehabilitate flexible pavements. Implementation of FDR on rehabilitation projects produces several desirable benefits. However, these benefits are not fully realized due to the fact that state department of transportation specifications typically limit the reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content of pavement base material to 50 percent. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of RAP content, cement content, temperature, curing time, curing condition, and moisture state on the strength, stiffness, and deformation characteristics of cement-treated base (CTB) mixtures containing high percentages of RAP.For this research, one aggregate base material and one RAP material were used for all samples. RAP content ranged from 0 to 100 percent in increments of 25 percent, and low, medium, and high cement levels corresponding to 7-day unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values of 200, 400, and 600 psi, respectively, were selected for testing. Moisture-density, UCS, resilient modulus, and permanent deformation tests were performed for various combinations of factors, and several statistical analyses were utilized to evaluate the results of the UCS, resilient modulus, and permanent deformation testing.The results of this work show that CTB containing RAP can be made to achieve 7-day UCS values approaching 600 psi regardless of RAP content. With regards to stiffness, the data collected in this study indicate that the resilient modulus of CTB containing RAP is affected by temperature in the range from 72 to 140°F for the low cement level. Permanent deformation of CTB containing RAP is significantly affected by RAP content and cement level at the test temperature of 140°F. At the low cement level, temperature is also a significant variable. As the 7-day UCS reaches approximately 400 psi, permanent deformation is reduced to negligible quantities. The results of this research indicate that the inverse relationship observed between permanent deformation and 7-day UCS is statistically significant.Given that the principle conclusion from this work is that CTB with high RAP contents can perform satisfactorily as a base material when a sufficient amount of cement is applied, agencies currently specifying limits on the percentage of RAP that can be used as a part of reclaimed base material in the FDR process should reevaluate their policies and specifications with the goal of allowing the use of high RAP contents where appropriate.

Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2016-03-02T20:13:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Valdemar Martins da Silva Junior- 2015.pdf: 3819482 bytes, checksum: 97968b41a20cc121c38122d649390f5b (MD5) license_rdf: 19874 bytes, checksum: 38cb62ef53e6f513db2fb7e337df6485 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-03-03T12:18:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Valdemar Martins da Silva Junior- 2015.pdf: 3819482 bytes, checksum: 97968b41a20cc121c38122d649390f5b (MD5) license_rdf: 19874 bytes, checksum: 38cb62ef53e6f513db2fb7e337df6485 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-03T12:18:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Valdemar Martins da Silva Junior- 2015.pdf: 3819482 bytes, checksum: 97968b41a20cc121c38122d649390f5b (MD5) license_rdf: 19874 bytes, checksum: 38cb62ef53e6f513db2fb7e337df6485 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-24 / Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa - FUNAPE / The full depth reclamation technique of pavements consists in the reuse of granular materials of existing layers as well as the granular and bituminous materials that compose the deteriorated asphalt layer may also add aggregates or chemical stabilizers, giving rise to a new base that will receive a new asphalt layer. Besides eliminating the need of spoil area of material from asphalt layer deteriorated, this technique gives greater agility to the site and a reduction in costs. This research was motivated by the agreement between the university (Universidade Federal de Goiás) and the government inspection agency (Controladoria Geral do Estado de Goiás – CGE-GO) and its main objective to evaluate laboratory if the solutions specified in the project are technically suitable for the pavements offer a satisfactory performance. The research has the specific objectives: to determine if the amount of gravel added to recycling is the amount specified in the project and, if indeed, this percentage is the one submitting the best mechanical results and check whether there was or not the breaking of aggregates during the compaction. Initially, a deformed sample of recycling material of four roads were collected in the field and from the accomplishment of conventional laboratory tests (characterization, compaction, expansion and California Bearing Ratio) and dynamic triaxial tests their characteristics and properties were determined and analyzed. Furthermore, a dosage study related to the amount of gravel added to the mixture was also carried out to check which content would provide a better performance to the pavement. The stress analysis was performed using the computer program Sigma / W and from the stresses acting in the bases of the roads was obtained the resilient modulus values of each base material used in the reconstructions and the results were compared with values obtained in existing similar studies. Among the base materials used in the reconstructions of the four roads studied, three showed resilient modulus in the laboratory higher to 400 MPa. From the analysis of the results, it appears that the recycled base with the addition of gravel has potential of application in the region of study. However, to be successful in the practice and the best relation for money, it is important to make a preliminary study of dosage, set the adequate compaction power, perform executive control on the site and evaluate the technical basis of specifications which they consider mechanistic parameters, still little existing in Brazil. / A técnica de reciclagem profunda de pavimentos consiste na reutilização dos materiais granulares das camadas existentes, bem como dos materiais granulares e betuminosos que compõem o revestimento deteriorado, podendo ainda adicionar agregados ou estabilizantes químicos, dando origem a uma nova base que irá receber um novo revestimento asfáltico. Além de eliminar a necessidade de áreas destinadas ao bota fora do material proveniente do revestimento asfáltico deteriorado, essa técnica confere maior agilidade à obra e uma redução nos custos. A realização desta pesquisa foi motivada pelo convênio firmado entre a Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) e a Controladoria Geral do Estado de Goiás (CGE-GO) e tem como objetivo principal avaliar laboratorialmente se as soluções especificadas em projeto são adequadas tecnicamente para o pavimento oferecer um desempenho satisfatório. A pesquisa tem como objetivos específicos: verificar se a quantidade de brita adicionada à reciclagem é a especificada em projeto e, se de fato, esse percentual é o que apresenta o melhor resultado mecânico e verificar se houve ou não a quebra de agregados durante o processo de compactação. Inicialmente, foram coletadas em campo amostras deformadas do material proveniente da reciclagem do pavimento de quatro rodovias e a partir da realização de ensaios laboratoriais convencionais (caracterização, compactação, expansão e California Bearing Ratio) e de ensaios triaxiais dinâmicos suas características e propriedades foram determinadas e analisadas. Além disso, um estudo de dosagem referente à quantidade de brita adicionada à mistura também foi realizado para verificar qual teor proporcionaria um melhor desempenho ao pavimento. A análise de tensões foi realizada através do programa computacional Sigma/W e a partir das tensões atuantes nas bases das rodovias obteve-se os valores de módulo resiliente de cada material de base utilizado nas reconstruções e os resultados encontrados foram comparados com valores obtidos em estudos similares existentes. Dentre os materiais de base utilizados nas reconstruções das quatro rodovias estudadas, três apresentaram módulo resiliente em laboratório superior a 400 MPa. A partir da análise dos resultados, verifica-se que a base reciclada com adição de brita tem potencial de aplicação na região de estudo. No entanto, para ter sucesso no emprego da prática e a melhor relação custo benefício, é importante realizar estudo preliminar de dosagem, definir a energia de compactação adequada, realizar controle executivo na obra e avaliar a técnica com base em especificações que considerem parâmetros mecanísticos, ainda pouco existentes no Brasil.

A relatively new method used to reduce the amount of cement-treated base (CTB) shrinkage cracking is microcracking of the CTB shortly after construction. Three portable instruments used in this study for monitoring the microcracking process include the heavy Clegg impact soil tester (CIST), portable falling-weight deflectometer (PFWD), and soil stiffness gauge (SSG). The specific objectives of this research were 1) to evaluate the sensitivity of each of the three portable instruments to microcracking, and 2) to compare measurements of CTB stiffness reduction obtained using the three devices. The test locations included in this study were Redwood Drive and Dale Avenue in Salt Lake City, Utah; 300 South in Spanish Fork, Utah; and a private access road in Wyoming. Experimental testing in the field consisted of randomized stationing at each site; sampling the CTB immediately after the cement was mixed into the reclaimed base material; compacting specimens for laboratory testing; and testing the CTB immediately after construction, immediately before microcracking, immediately after each pass of the vibratory roller during the microcracking process, and, in some instances, three days after microcracking. Several linear regression analyses were performed after data were collected using the CIST, PFWD, and SSG during the microcracking process to meet the objectives of this research. Results from the statistical analyses designed to evaluate the sensitivity of each of the three portable instruments to microcracking indicate that the PFWD and SSG are sensitive to microcracking, while the CIST is insensitive to microcracking. Results from the statistical analyses designed to compare measurements of CTB stiffness reduction demonstrate that neither of the instrument correlations involving the CIST are statistically significant. Only the correlation between the PFWD and SSG was shown to be statistically significant. Given the results of this research, engineers and contractors should utilize the PFWD or SSG for monitoring microcracking of CTB layers. The heavy CIST is unsuitable for monitoring microcracking and should not be used. For deriving target CTB stiffness reductions measured using either the PFWD or SSG from specified targets measured using the other, engineers and contractors should utilize the correlation chart developed in this research.

In-service pavements require maintenance and rehabilitation (MandR) interventions to keep them in compliance with structural and functional standards. With the increased focus on the sustainability of our roadway systems, it has become important to document the cost and environmental impacts of different MandR strategies over the life cycle of the pavement to facilitate project selection decisions in the future. Asphalt pavement recycling, while cost-effective and environmentally friendly compared to other traditional MandR treatments, still faces some widespread implementation push-back, leading to policy enactments by the FHWA aimed at encouraging the use of recycling in road projects. Many agencies and contractors have cited the lack of project selection criteria, and uncertainty about long-term performance of these recycling alternatives as reasons impeding rapid implementation of these treatments in road projects. One of the gray areas of the FHWA's 2015 Recycled Material Policy in project selection was, until recently, the lack of guidelines or tools for the assessment of the environmental suitability of candidate MandR treatments. Today, it is almost impossible to evaluate the environmental suitability of various recycling-based end-of-service-life treatments because available databases do not have relevant information on the details of unit processes, construction equipment and activities, and use-stage roughness data. Development of future MandR plans throughout the service life of pavements rehabilitated with recycling-based treatments is somewhat limited as deterioration is not fully understood. Also, available modeling tools no not address all LCA phases, or in cases where they do, key life cycle phases including the MandR, and use phases are not well covered due to the lack of quantification highlighted earlier. To address the highlighted concerns, this dissertation developed a user-friendly comprehensive LCA tool that was further validated with a case study to quantify the service life (when the pavement has reached a critical threshold performance value) and potential environmental benefits of pavement recycling projects executed by the Virginia Department of Transportation over the past decade. The tool, pySuPave, includes an excel spreadsheet user-inputs interface, and database of economic flows for unit processes used in the production of pavement materials and subsequent construction of the pavement system, considering transportation of materials and construction machinery to plants and construction site. A python-based program was used to perform matrix-based computations to generate the environmental burdens from the available public LCA Ecoinvent database. A substantive part of the dissertation was dedicated to evaluating the performance of in-service pavements rehabilitated with cold recycling and full-depth reclamation treatments, focusing on developing pavement performance prediction models (PPPM) that goes on to improve modelling of the MandR and use stages in the pavement LCA and ultimately bridges the knowledge gap on how these treatments perform in the long term. This part of the dissertation was presented in two chapters; trends in pavement recycling and performance data collection, and development of PPPMs for recycled asphalt pavements. The first provides an update and examines the current state of pavement recycling techniques, highlighting trends in the various recycling methods, examining what is and is not working from the agency perspective, and assessing the progress made in the last decade through a web-based survey. The survey results did not indicate significant changes in the adoption of the asphalt pavement recycling concept in the last decade. However, recycling techniques, such as hot in-place recycling, are being used less and more agencies seem to be adopting lower temperature techniques such as cold in-place recycling, cold central plant recycling and full depth reclamation. Improvements in mix design methods were noticeable, as more agencies have adopted contemporary methods, such as the Superpave design. Among states, very few agencies collected performance data for completed asphalt pavement recycling projects. The second chapter on performance focused on developing individual and family-type PPPMs from the data collected from the states of Virginia and Colorado, respectively. While regression modeling forms the backbone of the approach used, the chapter also presents an approach to developing family-type models using functional data analysis to find groups of projects with similar deterioration trends. In the case of Colorado, cold in-place recycling (CIR) projects completed with an initial IRI between 71 and 91 in/mi are most likely to deteriorate at an average group rate of 1.37 in/mi/year. Similarly, full depth reclamation (FDR) projects will most likely deteriorate following an average group rate of 1.40 in/mi/yr, with an initial IRI between 52 and 70 in/mi. These projects will stay in service well over 30 years if a threshold IRI of 140 in/mi were used a failure criterion. For the individual roughness models developed for VDOT, the initial IRI values and the rate of change for the treatments analyzed were found to range between 48 and 85 in/mi and between 0.70 and 5.20 in/mi/year, respectively, depending on the recycling method and type of stabilization treatment. Finally, a context-based life cycle assessment case study was conducted to benchmark and compare the environmental impacts associated with rehabilitating a low-volume road with various recycled-based and equivalent conventional methods. Several impact indicators were assessed but only the global warming (GW) score and the single score index that combines all the environmental impact indicators into a single number using normalization and weighting factors were reported in this study for the sake of brevity. Four restorative maintenance projects including two CIR (4-in. HMA over a 5-in. CIR with foamed asphalt and emulsion stabilization), one cold central plant recycling (CCPR): 4-in. HMA over a 5-in. foamed asphalt CCPR (CCPR FA), and one non-recycling structural overlay (8-in. HMA over an existing pavement) were evaluated. In addition, the following reconstruction projects were assessed; two FDR (4-in. HMA over a 12-in. FDR with foamed asphalt with 1% cement additive, and a 4-in. HMA over 10.5-in. cement stabilized FDR), and a non-recycling reconstruction project (a new reconstruction project with 8-in. HMA over a 16-in. aggregate base and subbase). The functional unit was a two lane-mile length, 12 feet wide project with a traffic volume of 1000 vehicles (3% trucks) and the analysis was conducted for 50 years. The GW score and a few other impact indicators showed an increase in the observed results where cement is used as a main stabilizer or as an additive. Between the asphalt stabilized projects, the difference in impact scores is only seen when cement is used as an additive as highlighted in the case of foamed asphalt applications. Even for the low-volume road under study, the use stage contributes the largest share to global warming and is—among several factors—attributed to the initial surface roughness of completed projects. Thus, for state DOTs looking to reduce the environmental footprints for road infrastructure projects and achieve federal legislative goals, building smoother roads and taking steps to keep the annual deterioration rate low would be an important measure, in addition to pavement recycling. Comparing the projects based on the overall single score derived from weighting factors from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ranks the projects as follows (listed in order decreasing impacts per rehabilitation category); restorative maintenance projects: T. OVERLAY (non-recycling structural overlay—8 in. HMA over an existing pavement) - 1.06 pts, CCPR FA (4 in. HMA over a 5 in. cold central plant recycling with foamed asphalt) - 1.02 pts, CIR FA (4 in. HMA over a 5 in. cold in-place recycling with foamed asphalt) - 1.00 pts, CIR AE (4 in. HMA over a 5 in. cold in-place recycling with emulsion)- 0.86 pts; reconstruction projects: RECONS (a new reconstruction project—8 in. HMA over a 16 in. aggregate base and subbase) -1.42 pts, FDR FA+C (4 in. HMA over a 12 in. FDR with foamed asphalt with 1% cement additive) - 1.15 pts, FDR C (4 in. HMA over 10.5 in. cement stabilized FDR) - 1.02 pts. / Doctor of Philosophy / Due to harsh environmental conditions and continual damage from moving traffic, highway pavements or roadways deteriorate and grow weak over time. Throughout their life in service, different maintenance and rehabilitation (MandR) activities are performed with the intention of slowing down the deterioration to always keep the highway at a certain level of service to road users. For a long time, these MandR activities have included the use of virgin materials in techniques ranging from minor treatment applications such as fog seals, chip seals, thin overlays through more heavy treatments such as mill and fills, thicker overlays all the way to total reconstruction. Other MandR alternatives include pavement recycling which reuses materials from the existing distressed roadways either in-place or at a nearby mobile plant have gained popularity among several state highway agencies over the last decade. The advantages of using the recycling alternatives compared to non-recycling options are many and have been known to include cost savings, less construction time, and low environmental footprint. Many highway agencies, however, have expressed the lack of information on project selection criteria and the uncertainty about long-term performance of these recycling alternatives as reasons impeding rapid and widespread implementation in road projects. Agencies need selection criteria to help them identify the right treatments to apply to the right road at the right time. In a bid to encourage the use of pavement recycling treatments, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) enacted the Recycled Materials Policy in 2006 (revised 2015) but the policy did not fully address certain aspects of project selection. Directives on assessing the environmental suitability of recycling projects, for instance, was not given. There are no tools with modern databases incorporating the various unit processes for pavement recycling to aid agencies carry out this environmental assessment. To address the highlighted concerns, we developed a user-friendly comprehensive environmental assessment tool called pySuPave as part of this dissertation. We later validated the tool with a case study to quantify the potential environmental benefits of pavement recycling projects executed by the Virginia Department of Transportation over the past decade. Next, we conducted a survey of the departments of transportation (DOT) around the United States and Canada to collect performance data from agencies with active in-place recycling programs. Approximately 18% of the DOTs surveyed were able to provide performance data. Data received from Colorado and Virginia were subsequently used to developed models to predict deterioration in recycled pavements. In the case of Colorado, CIR projects completed with an initial roughness (IRI) between 71 and 91 in/mi are most likely to deteriorate at a rate of 1.37 in/mi/year. Similarly, FDR projects will most likely deteriorate following an average group rate of 1.40 in/mi/yr, with an initial IRI between 52 and 70 in/mi. These projects will stay in service well over 30 years if a threshold IRI of 140 in/mi were used a failure criterion. For the individual roughness models developed for VDOT, the initial IRI values and the rate of change for the treatments analyzed were found to range between 48 and 85 in/mi and between 0.70 and 5.20 in/mi/year, respectively, depending on the recycling method and type of stabilization treatment Finally, we conducted an environmental assessment case study to benchmark and compare the environmental burdens i.e., global warming (GW) and other impacts associated with rehabilitating a low-volume road with various recycled-based and equivalent non-recycling methods. Four restorative maintenance projects including two CIR (4-in. HMA over a 5-in. CIR with foamed asphalt and emulsion stabilization), one CCPR (4-in. HMA over a 5-in. foamed asphalt CCPR [CCPR FA]), and one non-recycling structural overlay (8-in. HMA over an existing pavement) were evaluate. In addition, the following reconstruction projects were assessed; two FDR (4-in. HMA over a 12-in. FDR with foamed asphalt with 1% cement additive, and a 4-in. HMA over 10.5-in. cement stabilized FDR), and a non-recycling reconstruction project (a new reconstruction project with 8-in. HMA over a 16-in. aggregate base and subbase). The functional unit was a two lane-mile length, 12 feet wide project with a traffic volume of 1000 vehicles (3% trucks) and the analysis was conducted for 50 years. The study results showed that the recycling-based projects had lower overall environmental burdens compared to their equivalent non-recycling alternatives. The GW score and a few other environmental impact indicators were higher when cement is used as a main stabilizer or as an additive in the recycling projects. Between the asphalt stabilized recycling projects, the difference in impact scores is only seen when cement is used as an additive as emphasized in the case of foamed asphalt applications. Even for the low-volume roads under study, the use stage (when the project is open to road-users) in the pavement life cycle contributes the largest share to global warming and is—among several factors—attributed to the initial surface roughness of completed projects. Thus, for state DOTs looking to reduce the environmental footprints for road infrastructure projects and achieve federal legislative goals, building smoother roads and taking steps to keep the annual deterioration rate low would be an important measure, in addition to pavement recycling. The results from this research support the hypothesis that pavement recycling can reduce global warming and other environmental burdens compared to non-recycling methods. Therefore, agencies should encourage more pavement recycling programs.

This thesis investigates the application of In-Situ Recycling and provides guidelines for localities to aid in the selection of recycling methods, as well as documents a local government's experience with Cold In-Place Recycling. The recycling methods discussed in this study include Cold In-Place Recycling (CIR), Hot In-Place Recycling (HIR), and Full Depth Reclamation (FDR). These methods are performed onsite and in-place in a continuous process of milling, mixing, and placement. The In-Situ Recycling guidelines include suggestions based on: traffic characteristics, existing road condition, distress types, road access, local climate, road geometry, and other road characteristics. The guidelines are based on information from sources including NCHRP Synthesis 421, American Recycling and Reclamation Association (ARRA), FHWA, and state agencies with recycling experience. This study also resulted in documenting obstacles that localities may face when in-situ recycling, as well as the impact of limited experience with recycling. The study also evaluated the construction of Cold In-Place Recycled pavement sections in Christiansburg, VA, using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Additionally, using the FWD and GPR data, alternate recycled designs were proposed in addition to a cost comparison to a conventional design. / Master of Science

The primary objective of this research was to quantify the improvement in service life of a flexible pavement constructed using full-depth reclamation (FDR) in conjunction with cement stabilization when specified reductions in the spatial variability of specific construction-related parameters are achieved. This study analyzed pavement data obtained through field and laboratory testing of a reconstruction project in northern Utah. Data analyses included multivariate regression, Monte Carlo simulation, and mechanistic-empirical analyses of a model pavement structure. The results of the research show a steadily increasing trend in 28-day unconfined compressive strength of the cement-treated base (CTB) layer with increasing reductions in variability for cement content, moisture content, and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content across each of five different reliability levels. The most significant increases in CTB strength occurred with reductions in the standard deviations of moisture content and RAP content. Decreasing the variability of cement content did not provide significant additional strength to the CTB layer. Therefore, when involved on FDR projects, members of the pavement industry should focus energy on reducing the variability of both moisture content and RAP content, which both significantly impact pavement life, to achieve high-quality, long-lasting pavements.

Full-depth reclamation (FDR) in conjunction with cement stabilization is an established practice for rehabilitating deteriorating asphalt roads. Conventionally, FDR uses dry cement powder applied with a pneumatic spreader, creating undesirable fugitive cement dust. The cement dust poses a nuisance and, when inhaled, a health threat. Consequently, FDR in conjunction with conventional cement stabilization cannot generally be used in urban areas. To solve the problem of fugitive cement dust, the use of cement slurry, prepared by combining cement powder and water, has been proposed to allow cement stabilization to be utilized in urban areas. However, using cement slurry introduces several factors not associated with using dry cement that may affect road base strength, dry density (DD), and moisture content (MC). The objectives of this research were to 1) identify construction-related factors that influence the strength of road base treated with cement slurry in conjunction with FDR and quantify the effects of these factors and 2) compare the strength of road base treated with cement slurry with that of road base treated with dry cement. To achieve the research objectives, road base taken from an FDR project was subjected to extensive full-factorial laboratory testing. The 7-day unconfined compressive strength (UCS), DD, and MC were measured as dependent variables, while independent variables included cement content; slurry water batching temperature; cement slurry aging temperature; cement slurry aging time; presence of a set-retarding, water-reducing admixture; and aggregate-slurry mixing time. This research suggests that, when road base is stabilized with cement slurry in conjunction with FDR, the slurry water batching temperature; haul time; environmental temperature; and presence of a set-retarding, water-reducing admixture will not significantly affect the strength of CTB, provided that those factors fall within the limits explored in this research and are applied to a road base with similar properties. Cement content and cement-aggregate mixing time are positively correlated with the strength of CTB regardless of cement form. Additionally, using cement slurry will result in slightly lower strength values than using dry cement.