Research on the Long-Term Acoustic Efficiency of Asphalt Mixtures Using CRM in Test Sections of Slovak Roads

Abstract

The article presents the possibilities of utilizing waste from the automotive industry, namely old tires, in constructing pavements. The application of shredded rubber creates conditions for devulcanization, which improves the rheological properties of the binder and ensures its better dissolution in asphalt. The focus is on assessing the condition of the pavement surface, measuring the noise level in the vicinity of the road, and quantifying and evaluating the cost of implementing an asphalt pavement design with a crumb rubber modifier (CRM). A visual inspection was performed after 6 years of pavement life. Based on the inspection outputs, the pavement surface structure was in a favourable condition with no permanent deformations. Verifying the acoustic properties showed a noise reduction compared to the road section with the modified asphalt pavement surface. Currently, the price of rubber-modified asphalt for pavement in Slovakia is on average 10 to 15 % higher than the price of other modified mixes. However, we can conclude that pavements with CRM are economically and especially ecologically more advantageous in the long run.