Advancing Green Long-life Roadways: Unveiling the Fatigue and Durability Behaviour of Sustainable Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Asphalt

Asphalt recycling is globally important for its environmental and economic benefits, including reduced CO2 emissions, conservation of natural resources, and cost savings. The growing demand for sustainable solutions has accelerated the adoption of reclaimed asphalt (RA) recycling techniques, promoting a circular economy and supporting the EU's 2050 Climate Neutrality goals. Ensuring durability and service life is crucial for efficient RA recycling, but the complex components in recycled mixtures pose challenges. Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Asphalt (FRRA) has emerged to address these challenges, yet current research largely focuses on experimental mechanics, leaving fatigue debonding mechanisms insufficiently understood. Factors such as material type, construction conditions, and environmental impacts complicate fatigue behaviour analysis. Bridging the gap in understanding long-term performance is vital for optimizing FRRA materials. The MSCA-GOLFatDue project aims to tackle these challenges through innovative research in four areas: (1) investigating material interaction mechanisms and their impact on fatigue debonding, (2) developing a trans-scale computational model for accurate fatigue life prediction, (3) creating a validated evaluation protocol for optimizing FRRA compositions and structures, and (4) developing new sustainable, durable recycled asphalt materials for industrial applications. The GOLFatDue project enables Dr. Ren to explore the fatigue and durability of FRRA materials by combining fundamental scientific research at three prestigious European universities (University of Antwerp, University of Nottingham, and University of Lyon) with industrial applications. This project will advance European research on green infrastructures and sustainable construction materials, contributing to the Circular Economy Action Plan and paving the way toward a carbon-neutral road industry.