Cost-benefit analysis of RAP incorporated stone matrix asphalt mixtures

Abstract

It is desirable to incorporate Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement into the asphalt mixtures, which provides several benefits i.e. economic, environmental and performance. It is necessary to study, the economic analysis of the RAP since that incur several contingencies to the asphalt mixtures. In this study, a simple approach is used to evaluate the production cost of the asphalt and RAP incorporated asphalt mixtures. Apart from that Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) is used as a rejuvenator to enhance the properties of the mixture. In this study, asphalt mixture production cost is evaluated and cost of each material is taken from the Public Works Department Standard Scheduled of Rates (PWD – SSR) and the market survey techniques are followed. From the cost-benefit ratio, it is observed that the reduction in the Optimum Binder Content (OBC) provides great economic savings to the production cost. The incorporation of the RAP reduced the asphalt content and reduced the production cost of the asphalt mixtures. The addition of the WVO further reduced the OBC but increased the production cost compared to the non-rejuvenated mixture. The increase in the production cost is due to the extra cost invested on the WVO and other contingencies.