Key performance properties of asphalt mixtures with recycled concrete aggregate from low strength concrete

•Testing the physical and mechanical properties of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) produced from low strength concrete.•Evaluating the key performance properties of asphalt concrete with various levels of the RCA replacements.•Analyzing the possibility of hot mix asphalt (HMA) concrete with RCA from low strength concrete.•The HMA concrete containing up to 50% RCA from low strength concrete can be satisfactorily used in road construction.

Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), recycled from low strength concrete, was used to replace the coarse natural aggregate (NA) at different replacement levels. The results indicate that compared with NA, the RCA used had lower apparent relative density, crushing and wearing value, higher water absorption, poorer adhesion to asphalt. As the RCA replacement level increased, the high temperature stability and the low temperature cracking resistance of the asphalt concrete generally increased; the water stability is significantly lower than that of the asphalt concrete made with NA; the asphalt concrete containing up to 50% RCA can be satisfactorily used in road construction.