Evaluation of the performance of Glasphalt concrete mixtures for binder course

Abstract

The vast and increasing quantities of waste materials produced by humans and accumulating in landfills are causing serious environmental problems around the world. Recycling is one of the most effective ways of protecting the natural environment, conserving natural resources, and achieving sustainability. Glass is one of the most widely used solid waste materials and can be readily recycled. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of an asphalt mixture for binder course that uses different percentages of crushed glass as an aggregate substitution. Asphalt mixtures comprising crushed glass as an aggregate are called glasphalt and have been used since the late 1960s. Two types of the mix were prepared: one with fractured aggregate only (control mix), and one with aggregates blended with recycled glass (glasphalt mix). Adding 2% of hydrated lime as an anti-stripping additive to the glasphalt mixture helps improve its resistance to moisture damage. The results indicate that the performance of the glasphalt mixture is superior in comparison to the conventional asphalt mixture. It is therefore desirable to replace the natural aggregate with crushed glass in asphalt mixtures up to 20% by weight of total aggregate with a maximal particle size of 4.75 mm.