Field and laboratory investigation of the effect of cold in-place recycled asphalt on transverse cracking

Thermal cracking is a common pavement distress in Canada and the northern parts of the United States and is responsible for increasing road maintenance and rehabilitation. Cold In-Place Recycling (CIR) is a new rehabilitation method used by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton to decrease the rate of occurrence of transverse and reflective thermal cracks. This study involves the collection of field and laboratory data to validate the in-situ performance of the CIR, and to characterize the mechanical properties of the material.; In this thesis, a review of the research carried out on the CIR process is presented. This review identifies a need for material characterization. A research plan is developed which outlines a field data collection and laboratory testing program. Field data was collected using a pavement management system and a Dynaflect Deflectometer. The laboratory tests carried out on the material were conventional test methods including bulk relative density, indirect and direct tensile strength, and moisture susceptibility tests.; The results of the field data collection and laboratory testing program are used to develop a mechanism to explain the ability of the CIR rehabilitated roads to slow down the phenomenon of transverse cracking.