Field Evaluation and Cost-Effectiveness of Cement-Stabilized Full-Depth Reclamation of Asphalt Pavements in Hot and Humid Climates

Abstract

Cement-stabilized full-depth reclamation (CSFDR) is a common rehabilitation treatment used by transportation agencies. Yet, several gaps exist in the literature regarding the long-term field performance and cost-effectiveness of this treatment, especially in hot and humid climates. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the immediate benefits and long-term field performance as well as the cost-effectiveness of CSFDR in Louisiana. To achieve this objective, 122 CSFDR projects were identified and analyzed in terms of alligator cracks, rutting, random cracks, and roughness over a monitoring period of up to 15 years. In terms of time and traffic, the 122 CSFDR projects had an average life of 18.6±1.2 years and 2.8±0.5 million trucks, respectively. Results indicated that the performance of CSFDR is significantly affected by the pretreatment pavement conditions, applied overlay thickness, and traffic. Results also indicated that CSFDR projects would usually fail due to the development of random cracks. This could be attributed to the development of shrinkage cracks, which is a common problem with cement stabilization in Louisiana. A regression model was developed to predict the service life of CSFDR based on project conditions. This model could be utilized by transportation agencies in hot and humid climates to plan for future maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. Results of the cost-effectiveness analysis did not provide strong evidence that CSFDR is cost-effective for all project conditions; hence, it is recommended that CSFDR should only be selected for projects in which base failure is detected.