Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
(OP)
I often get requests to allow old AC pavements to be grinded and mixed with soil to be placed as a fill. Besided environmental issues, are there any legitimate reasons why this is a bad idea?





RE: Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
I'd say the biggest problem (to me) is that the concrete pieces are reduced to less than 3 inches (i.e., one-third the lift thickness) and whether the technician understands oversize correction and the use of field proctors in variable soil materials (i.e., one-point confirmations). You'd need a good fix on the specific gravity of the asphalt pavement also (to properly perform oversize corrections).
If the compaction control get's out of control, failures related to the use of asphalt pavement will result in fingerpointing. While the contractor owns the requirement to place as specified, if you are doing testing, you'll be dragged through the mud (and maybe even deserve it?).
Just a few thoughts.
f-d
¡papá gordo ain't no madre flaca!
RE: Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
One reason it can be a bad idea, is that the material is likely to be more cost effectively reused as RAP in an asphalt mix. The virgin aggregate and binder is way more costly than the soil you are using it as.
RE: Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
RE: Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
RE: Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
RE: Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
I think that there is some environmental ruling that this material (Asphalt concrete) is unacceptable for fill under residential dwellings. Henc use of material becomes important. Seems that ther is no issue wiwith concrete in fill from an environmental perspective.
Regarding compaction issues for other fills such as parking lots etc. If fill is to be placed below the zone of significant stresses from say below 1 to 1.5 m then I would not be carried away with Proctors. Rather use a numer of passes and watch the process. Isn't this concept still in use. For example use of rockfills etc.
RE: Recyling of Pavement in Compacted Fill
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
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