Análisis de desempeño del uso de grano de caucho reciclado en mezclas asfálticas para mejorar la resistencia a la fatiga

Abstract

The present study focuses on the design of asphalt mixtures with the incorporation of wet recycled rubber grains, with the objective of comparing their physical and mechanical properties, with emphasis on fatigue resistance, compared to a conventional flexible pavement, and to determine their sustainability in order to consider them as an environmentally viable alternative for the recycling of end-of-life tires. To ensure the reliability of the results, characterization tests were carried out on the aggregates, recycled rubber grain and asphalt bitumen, following the specifications of the INEN, NEVI-12 and ASTM standards. The Marshall method was used to prepare 48 test specimens with rubber percentages of 0%, 10%, 15% and 20%, and with an asphalt percentage of 6.7%. Of these, 12 were subjected to Marshall tests, 12 to loading and unloading tests, and 24 to indirect tensile tests. It was determined that, for fatigue resistance, the asphalt mix with 15% recycled rubber had the best performance. Therefore, this optimum percentage was used to perform the life cycle analysis of this asphalt mix compared to a conventional one. It was concluded that the asphalt mix with 15% recycled rubber showed a considerable reduction in environmental impacts according to the TRACI2.1 methodology.