Quantifying the impact of reclaimed asphalt pavement on airport asphalt surfaces

Airports desire sustainable infrastructure solutions and airport pavements provide an opportunity for increased reuse and recycling of materials. The recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in airport pavement surfaces is attractive and viable, but has been resisted by many airports. Two asphalt mixtures, both produced with and without RAP, were compared based on Marshall mixture design properties, laboratory performance-indicative test results and full-scale asphalt production properties. No testing indicated any detrimental effect associated with the inclusion of low-risk RAP sources at 5–10% RAP content. However, the surface friction was significantly reduced by the inclusion of RAP. It is recommended that further research consider the cause of the reduced surface friction associated with low-risk RAP inclusion, as well as the influence of other RAP sources on airport asphalt surface performance.