The current study focuses on cold recycling of bituminous pavement using bituminous emulsion and the mix containing a major portion of RAP is termed as Emulsified Cold Recycled Mixture (EC RM). ECRM consists of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), fresh aggregate, active filler, water, and bituminous emulsion. Moreover, ECRM consists of various constituents and hence the expected interactions among these constituents are complex, which consequently influences mechanical characterization of the material.
There exists very little understanding of the mechanical characterization of ECRM and choice of an appropriate material parameter for structural design. It is not clear whether the response of ECRM is pressure-dependent (granular like behavior) or loading rate-dependent (bituminous like behavior). The primary challenge is to understand the mechanical response of ECRM. After understanding the mechanical behavior, a further challenge is to measure the material parameters using appropriate test protocol and post-processing methods. Suppose the material is considered to be granular like, the measurement of material parameters using the existing test protocols for unbound granular material is questionable due to considerable intergranular bonding in ECRM. Similarly, if the material response is considered to be bituminous the application of the existing test protocols for mechanical characterization of ECRM is also unreliable due to its high air void content and the complex interac tion among the constituents. ECRM usually has higher air void content, low early life strength and long curing time which results in low resistance to traffic loading, and moisture damage. Therefore, ECRM conventionally used only as a base or binder course material in the pavement structure. Therefore, a detailed study understanding the role of various constituents and their interaction, and the production process on the mechanical characterization, leading to wearing course material, is currently lacking.

In this seminar, I will discuss the existing understanding of the interaction among the constituents and design of conventional ECRM. I will concisely introduce ‘why mechanical characterization of ECRM is challenging’. I will also talk about the existing knowledge on the mechanical response and material parameter determination of ECRM. I will give a brief insight into the different production process exists to improve the mechanical properties of ECRM, so that it can be implemented as wearing course. The methodology selected by me to design a conventional ECRM as well as an ECRM which can be implemented as wearing course material will be discussed in detail. Moreover, the methodology to understand the mechanical response and measure the material parameter of ECRM using appropriate test protocol and post-processing method will be discussed. I will be presenting my interesting experimental results on the design of conventional ECRM and its mechanical characterization under repeated haversine compression loading. In the next seminar, I will be talking about the design of ECRM to implement as wearing course material, and its mechanical characterization, which is the next step of my research work.