Technical suitability of wet or dry processing of a dense rubberized warm asphalt mixture

Abstract

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) and crumb rubber modified asphalt in the field of asphalt paving have been demonstrated to be green technologies for producing environmentally friendly pavement. However, limited research has assessed the behaviours of mixtures including both technologies. This study performed research aligned with environmental considerations and sustainability to examine the design and manufacturing of dense asphalt mixtures incorporating a crumb-rubber modifier through a wet or dry process and a specific vegetable additive for WMA technologies. The results indicated that, when rubber is added through a wet process, and a WMA vegetable additive is incorporated, the mixture can be manufactured and compacted at temperatures approximately 25 °C below that of the control mixture, while keeping the mechanical properties within the specifications.