Field trials of plastic- and latex-modified asphalt concrete

Test strips of pavement, which contained seven combinations of a polyolefin (plastic) and a styrene-butadiene rubber, were laid in five states. The states were selected on the basis of climate so that the projects would represent the majority of climatic conditions encountered in the continental United States. Data were collected from preconstruction testing on laboratory-compacted samples and from pavement condition surveys of each site. Data on construction techniques were recorded, and postconstruction data from both field-mixed and laboratory-compacted samples and cores were collected. Testing included resilient modulus tests at 10°F, 34°F, 77°F, and 104°F; Hveem stabilities; tensile strength tests at 10°F and 77°F; and one cycle of the Lottman accelerated conditioning procedure. Preliminary conclusions are that construction using plastic and latex presents no major problems. Additional study results are discussed.