Performance of porous European mix (PEM) pavements added with crumb rubbers in dry process

Crumb rubber modifier, made from scrap tires, has been introduced into the production of different types of hot mix asphalt in either wet or dry process. To determine if the rubberised asphalt mix performs as well as polymer-modified asphalt cement (PMAC), test sections of rubberised and control PMAC porous European mix (PEM) in Georgia were examined through a visual inspection and laboratory testing. The results indicated that the performance of rubberised PEM pavements from visual inspection was almost equal to that of PMAC PEM (as the controls) with no rutting or cracking being found, except that the Cantabro test showed a higher mass loss after 3 years' service. After 5 years' service in I-75 Perry, the rubberised PEM still performed a little better rutting resistance, although the rubberised section experienced about twice cumulative traffic as compared to the control; the other visual inspections remained the same.