Pave the way: Exploring recycled concrete pavements for road construction
10/27/2026
A new Illinois Center for Transportation project will examine how concrete from demolished pavements can be reused in road construction.
Led by Erol Tutumluer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Abel Bliss Professor in Engineering, the two-year study will analyze the performance and cost-effectiveness of using recycled concrete pavement in base and subbase layers and as a replacement for subgrade materials.
Reusing recycled concrete aggregates from existing pavements could reduce the need for new aggregate materials and lower construction costs. However, they may also present challenges, particularly related to drainage and long-term performance. One concern is calcium leaching, which can produce mineral deposits known as tufa that may clog pavement drainage systems. Researchers will investigate whether blending recycled concrete aggregates at certain gradations or with locally available fine-grained soils can reduce this risk while maintaining adequate drainage.
The project also will examine the strength, durability and drainage characteristics of recycled concrete with different particle-size distributions and fines control strategies. Field testing is planned to analyze the material’s performance.
The findings will help develop guidelines for incorporating recycled concrete pavements into the Indiana Department of Transportation’s pavement designs.
Conducted through Purdue University’s Joint Transportation Research Program for Indiana Department of Transportation, the project (SPR-5027) is scheduled for completion June 30, 2028.