Influence of reclaimed asphalt pavement content on complex modulus of asphalt binder blends and corresponding mixes: experimental results and modelling

The objective of the presented study is to determine linear viscoelastic (LVE) properties of corresponding binders and mixes and to check how they change with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content. The investigation is part of a wider on-going research project, in the framework of a PhD thesis, in collaboration between Universite de Lyon/Ecole Nationale Travaux Publics de l'Etat (ENTPE), EIFFAGE Travaux Publics and Beyond Petroleum. Dynamic shear rheometer and tension/compression (using a Metravib device) complex modulus tests were performed on nine different bitumens, produced as blends of two different base bitumens and RAP-extracted bitumen in various proportions. LVE properties of six asphalt mixes, produced with the same materials and proportions of certain bitumen blends among the nine tested ones, were measured in tension/compression mode. 2 Springs, 2 Parabolic Elements, 1 Dashpot model was used to fit experimental data both for binders and mixes. Shift-Homothety-Shift in time-Shift transformation (developed at ENTPE) was applied to verify the correspondence of LVE behaviours of related binders and mixes.