Cold-in-Place Recycling with 100% Recycled Asphalt Pavement Rejuvenated by Soybean Oil: Laboratory and Field Evaluation

Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility and performance of using soybean oil as a bio-based recycling agent in recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) for road reconstruction in cold regions. A comprehensive demonstration project was conducted on a 5-mile section of Old State Road in Clare County, Michigan, where a 100% RAP mixture modified with soybean oil was produced and placed using a conventional asphalt paver equipped with a screed. Laboratory evaluations included balanced mix design, rutting and cracking testing, and binder performance analysis. Field application processes, including mixing and compaction, were also documented and evaluated. The asphalt mixture tests included the Hamburg wheel-tracking test (HWTT) and the indirect tensile asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT), while the asphalt binder tests included dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), asphalt binder cracking device (ABCD), rotational viscometer (RV), linear amplitude sweep (LAS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and CO₂ emission analysis. An optimal soybean oil dosage of 1.0 wt.% (based on the total weight of the mix) significantly improved low-temperature cracking resistance and fatigue life while maintaining rutting resistance. Results showed that soybean oil improved compaction performance and exhibited a cracking temperature approximately 3.3°C lower than that of untreated RAP based on the ABCD test. Fatigue performance was also enhanced. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the chemical compatibility and interaction between soybean oil and the RAP binder. On-site application was completed smoothly without workability issues, and the final pavement met all compaction and density requirements. In summary, using soybean oil as an RAP recycling agent provides a practical and environmentally friendly solution to improve the performance of recycled asphalt mixes, especially for low-volume roads in cold climates, while supporting the sustainability of Michigan’s pavement and the growth of the soybean market.