Switzerland is not fully taking advantage of the potential to re-use asphalt for production of new asphalt mixtures. As a result, stockpiles of RA (Reclaimed Asphalt) keep accumulating. The reasons for this include lack of long-term performance experience, as well as the unreliable nature of high RA mixture design and quality control procedures. The problems were evident in the recent trial with mobile load simulator MLS10 (VSS2005/457 VP6) and at a test section at Graubünden.
The HighRAP project will address these problems by building on the existing world-wide knowledge of RA re-use in asphalt layers in order to rapidly implement procedures that would allow confident use of highly recycled pavements in Switzerland. To achieve this, six interconnected studies will be performed, including RA processing, RA characterization methodology, mixture aging, balanced mixture design, test sections and accelerated traffic simulation. As a result of the research, RA use requirements will be developed for use by ASTRA and guidelines for achieving the required high RA mixture performance will be presented to the road construction industry. The total project will be executed together with industry partners: BHZ, Ammann, REPROAD and EWP.
