Sustainable Pavement Design Using Recycled Asphalt Materials

Abstract

The increasing environmental burden associated with conventional asphalt pavement construction has accelerated the need for sustainable alternatives. Recycled asphalt materials, particularly reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), have emerged as a promising solution to reduce virgin material consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and lifecycle costs. This study aims to analyze the performance, environmental, and economic implications of sustainable pavement design incorporating recycled asphalt materials based on a systematic literature-based assessment.
A qualitative systematic review and comparative synthesis were conducted using 25 peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2025. The selected studies were analyzed to evaluate mechanical performance, durability, environmental impact, and cost efficiency of pavements incorporating RAP and other recycled materials such as waste polymers, steel slag, and fly ash.
The results indicate that RAP contents between 30% and 50% provide optimal performance while significantly reducing carbon emissions and lifecycle costs. Advanced recycling techniques such as warm-mix asphalt and cold recycling further enhance sustainability by lowering energy demand and emissions. Life cycle assessment results consistently demonstrate environmental impact reductions ranging from 30% to 50% compared to conventional pavements.
This study confirms that sustainable pavement design using recycled asphalt materials is technically feasible, environmentally beneficial, and economically viable. The findings support the wider adoption of recycled materials in pavement engineering and provide evidence-based guidance for policymakers and practitioners toward achieving carbon-neutral infrastructure development.