CSIR-CRRI, New Delhi, OSEPL and Ooms India Demonstrate Landmark 60% RAP Technology on NH-716

Key Highlights:

• A landmark demonstration of 60% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) technology was successfully conducted on National Highway-716 (Chennai–Tirupati Package-I).
• The initiative was a collaborative effort by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited (OSEPL), and Ooms Polymer Modified Bitumen Pvt. Ltd. (Ooms India).
• The demonstration showcased the use of 60% RAP in the Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) layer for road construction.
• REJUBIT, an indigenous RAP rejuvenator jointly developed by CSIR-CRRI and Ooms India, was a key component of the technology.
• The project aims to promote sustainable and circular road construction by treating existing highways as a "resource bank."

Detailed Insights:

• Higher utilization of RAP significantly reduces the requirement for virgin aggregates and bitumen, conserving natural resources.
• This approach minimizes construction waste and lowers the environmental footprint of highway construction.
• The demonstration represents a crucial step in advancing high-RAP recycling technology under actual highway conditions in India.
• REJUBIT restores key properties of aged bitumen in reclaimed asphalt, enabling higher proportions of recycled material in new mixes.
• The successful application of REJUBIT marks the progression of an Indian research-led technology from laboratory to field-scale implementation.
• The initiative fosters collaboration between research institutions, highway contractors, and technology providers for greener infrastructure development.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP): Recycled material obtained from existing asphalt roads, containing valuable aggregates and aged bitumen.
• Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM): A specific layer in flexible pavement construction, typically composed of a dense mix of aggregates and bitumen.
• REJUBIT: An indigenous technology designed to rejuvenate aged bitumen in RAP, restoring its properties for reuse in new asphalt mixes.
• Circular Economy: An economic system focused on eliminating waste and continuously utilizing resources, applied here to road construction materials.