Comparative Analysis of Cold Central-Plant Recycled and Unbound Base Course Bearing Capacity

Distresses in the pavement structure gradually develop, at a rate that is directly related to bearing capacity. Any
reduction in bearing capacity leads to faster pavement deterioration. To retain the same bearing capacity of whole
pavement structure during the year is an issue, the main reason being water accumulation in subgrade and base
courses, especially in spring as ice lenses melt. This paper focuses on the bearing capacity of pavement structures
with bound and unbound base courses in different seasons. Both pavements were affected by the same climatic
conditions. Bound base courses were constructed of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) blended with virgin
aggregate and treated with 3.1% of foamed bitumen and 2.3% of cement. Cold recycled asphalt mixture was
produced in a central plant. Bearing capacity of the whole pavement structure was evaluated by surface modulus,
which was calculated on the basis of falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data. A comparative analysis of cold
central plant recycled (CCPR) and unbound base course was performed considering pavement structure, side of
the road and season.