Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/733
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Item Feasibility of reclaimed asphalt pavement as aggregate in Portland cement concrete pavement(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2011) Bermel, Bethany Noel; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michael BerryEach year, the US highway industry produces over 100 million tons of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) through the rehabilitation and construction of the nation's roads. Using RAP as aggregate in Portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP) is one attractive application for a further use of this recyclable material. Earlier research has demonstrated the feasibility of creating concrete with RAP aggregate; however, prior studies focus on mechanical properties of the material. This research project will further distinguish the properties of this material and draw conclusions on the concrete's aptness for use as a pavement in Montana. This thesis encompasses the development of candidate RAP in PCCP mixtures that will subsequently move forward for a more thorough evaluation of their material properties. The mixing experiment and preliminary testing phases of this project provided information to draw a number of conclusions about the appropriateness of RAP aggregate in PCCP, including: (1) using conventional practices, PCCP containing RAP aggregate (20 percent fine and 45 percent coarse) can achieve compressive strengths in excess of 3,000-psi; (2) as the RAP replacement rate is increased, the compressive strength of the concrete decreases; (3) fine RAP aggregate appears to have a more detrimental effect on the concrete than coarse aggregate; (4) concretes with a relatively high RAP replacement rate (50 percent fine and 100 percent coarse) may be suitable for transportation applications; (5) at high RAP replacement rates, there appears to be a benefit (relative to concrete strength) in using increased replacements of both fine and coarse RAP, rather than singly replacing just one aggregate gradation; and (6) concrete containing RAP displays increased flexural strengths as compared to traditional PCCP. This material research was performed using a Design of Experiments (DOE) method. The suitability of this statistical method as a mix design development tool was characterized through several important findings, which include: (1) the DOE method was effective in distinguishing mixture behaviors; (2) mix design optimization is readily accomplished using the statistical model generated from the DOE data; and (3) variability in the concrete mixing and testing processes has a significant effect on the capabilities of the statistical model.