Innovative rehabilitation techniques for asphalt roadways

A considerable portion of the highway systems in the United States have been suffering from poor functional and structural condition states during the last decades. Exacerbating the problem, a large number of urban highways are crippled with congestion resulting in large amounts of wasted fuel, emissions, delays, and higher number of accidents. Management of congested highways is challenging due to the potential for higher rates of deterioration as a result of increased usage and also due to the higher user costs that are direct results of work zones during maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MRR) activities. Therefore, transportation agencies and local governments are placing more emphasis on innovative MRR techniques that have the potential to reduce the economic, social, and environmental impacts associated with traditional MRR techniques. In accord with the increasing needs for tools that will facilitate better management of highway networks, a research project has been initiated at Syracuse University with an objective of investigating various innovative MRR techniques that can be employed in improvement of asphalt roadways and developing a high-level decision support tool that will assist in determining the most suitable MRR technique under various scenarios. In this paper, the initial findings of the project are shared. More specifically, asphalt recycling techniques, use of warm mix asphalt (WMA), and intelligent compaction techniques are discussed. The basic features, advantages, and limitations of each technique are provided. Case studies featuring applications of these techniques are also presented.